Conservative Party (Romania, 1880-1918)
Encyclopedia
The Conservative Party was between 1880 and 1918 one of Romania
's two most important parties, the other one being the Liberal Party
. The party was the party of government for a total of 14 years, more than a third of its existence.
It was founded on 3 February 1880 in Bucharest, although the doctrines and various groups of conservatives had already existed for some time. Precursors to the party had included the political grouping "Juna Dreaptă" (November 1868), and the newspaper Timpul
(founded March 1876).
The party relied on the support of the great landowners, the bourgeoisie
as well as some intellectuals. Their economic policy was to encourage light industry and crafts, but they did not oppose investments in heavy industry.
The 1907 Romanian Peasants' Revolt
showed that some reforms needed to be made in the Romanian social and political scene. That is why in 1913 the Conservatives accepted some reforms, such as the universal suffrage
promoted by the Liberals. In 1917, under pressure from the Liberals, rather than oppose modifications to the Constitution
, the Conservatives did not accept the changes and tried to adapt. However, after the union of Romania with Transylvania
, they never played an important role in the politics of Romania
.
In the early 20th century, the party underwent several schisms. In January 1908, Take Ionescu
left to found the Conservative Democratic Party (Partidul Conservator-Democrat, PCD). In May 1915, Nicolae Filipescu led a group out of the party that favored joining World War I on the Entente
side; in October 1916, the Filipescu and Ionescu groups fused as the Conservative Nationalist Party (Partidul Conservator Naţionalist).
In 1918–19 the party split into the Partidul Conservator-Democrat (which, in 1922, fused with the National Party) and the short-lived Partidul Conservator-Progresist.
Source: Scurtu 1982.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
's two most important parties, the other one being the Liberal Party
National Liberal Party (Romania)
The National Liberal Party , abbreviated to PNL, is a centre-right liberal party in Romania. It is the third-largest party in the Romanian Parliament, with 53 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 22 in the Senate: behind the centre-right Democratic Liberal Party and the centre-left Social...
. The party was the party of government for a total of 14 years, more than a third of its existence.
It was founded on 3 February 1880 in Bucharest, although the doctrines and various groups of conservatives had already existed for some time. Precursors to the party had included the political grouping "Juna Dreaptă" (November 1868), and the newspaper Timpul
Timpul
Timpul is a newspaper published in Romania, originally published as the official platform of the defunct Conservative Party....
(founded March 1876).
The party relied on the support of the great landowners, the bourgeoisie
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
as well as some intellectuals. Their economic policy was to encourage light industry and crafts, but they did not oppose investments in heavy industry.
The 1907 Romanian Peasants' Revolt
1907 Romanian Peasants' Revolt
The 1907 Romanian Peasants' Revolt took place in March 1907 in Moldavia and it quickly spread, reaching Wallachia. The main cause was the discontent of the peasants about the inequity of land ownership, which was in the hands of just a few large landowners....
showed that some reforms needed to be made in the Romanian social and political scene. That is why in 1913 the Conservatives accepted some reforms, such as the universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
promoted by the Liberals. In 1917, under pressure from the Liberals, rather than oppose modifications to the Constitution
Constitution of Romania
The 1991 Constitution of Romania, adopted on 21 November 1991, voted in the referendum of 8 December 1991 and introduced on the same day, is the current fundamental law that establishes the structure of the government of Romania, the rights and obligations of the country's citizens, and its mode...
, the Conservatives did not accept the changes and tried to adapt. However, after the union of Romania with Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
, they never played an important role in the politics of Romania
Politics of Romania
Politics of Romania take place in a framework of a semi-presidential parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Romania is the head of government and the President of Romania exercises the functions of head of state. Romania has a multi-party system. Executive...
.
In the early 20th century, the party underwent several schisms. In January 1908, Take Ionescu
Take Ionescu
Take or Tache Ionescu was a Romanian centrist politician, journalist, lawyer and diplomat, who also enjoyed reputation as a short story author. Starting his political career as a radical member of the National Liberal Party , he joined the Conservative Party in 1891, and became noted as a social...
left to found the Conservative Democratic Party (Partidul Conservator-Democrat, PCD). In May 1915, Nicolae Filipescu led a group out of the party that favored joining World War I on the Entente
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
side; in October 1916, the Filipescu and Ionescu groups fused as the Conservative Nationalist Party (Partidul Conservator Naţionalist).
In 1918–19 the party split into the Partidul Conservator-Democrat (which, in 1922, fused with the National Party) and the short-lived Partidul Conservator-Progresist.
Party presidents
- Emanoil (Manolache) Costache EpureanuManolache Costache EpureanuManolache Costache Epureanu was twice the Prime Minister of Romania as a representative of the Conservative Party: in 1870 and in 1876 .- Biography :...
(February–September 1880) - Lascăr CatargiuLascar CatargiuLascăr Catargiu was a Romanian conservative statesman born in Moldavia. He belonged to an ancient Wallachian family, one of whose members had been banished in the 17th century by Prince Matei Basarab, and had settled in Moldavia.-Biography:...
(1880–99) - Gheorghe Grigore CantacuzinoGheorghe CantacuzinoGheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino was a Conservative Romanian politician who twice served as the Prime Minister of Romania: between 23 April 1899 and 19 July 1900 and between 4 January 1906 and 24 March 1907...
(1899–1907) - Petre P. CarpPetre P. CarpPetre P. Carp , commonly rendered as P. P. Carp, was a Romanian conservative politician and literary critic who served as a Prime Minister of Romania for two terms...
(1907–13) - Titu MaiorescuTitu MaiorescuTitu Liviu Maiorescu was a Romanian literary critic and politician, founder of the Junimea Society. As a literary critic, he was instrumental in the development of Romanian culture in the second half of the 19th century....
(1913–14) - Alexandru MarghilomanAlexandru MarghilomanAlexandru Marghiloman was a Romanian conservative statesman who served for a short time in 1918 as Prime Minister of Romania, and had a decisive role during World War I.-Early career:...
(1914–25)
Source: Scurtu 1982.
Other important members
- Alexandru Lahovari
- Dimitrie S. Niţescu
- Mihail G. Cantacuzino
- Dimitrie A. Grecianu
- Constantin Garoflid
Governments formed
- Theodor RosettiTheodor RosettiTheodor Rosetti was a Romanian writer, journalist and politician who served as Prime Minister of Romania between 13 April 1888 and 11 April 1889....
(23 March – 12 November 1888) - Theodor RosettiTheodor RosettiTheodor Rosetti was a Romanian writer, journalist and politician who served as Prime Minister of Romania between 13 April 1888 and 11 April 1889....
(12 November 1888 – 26 March 1889) - Lascăr CatargiuLascar CatargiuLascăr Catargiu was a Romanian conservative statesman born in Moldavia. He belonged to an ancient Wallachian family, one of whose members had been banished in the 17th century by Prince Matei Basarab, and had settled in Moldavia.-Biography:...
(29 March – 3 November 1889) - George Manu (5 November 1889 – 15 February 1891)
- Ioan Emanoil Florescu (21 February – 25 November 1891)
- Lascăr CatargiuLascar CatargiuLascăr Catargiu was a Romanian conservative statesman born in Moldavia. He belonged to an ancient Wallachian family, one of whose members had been banished in the 17th century by Prince Matei Basarab, and had settled in Moldavia.-Biography:...
(27 November 1891 – 3 October 1895) - Gheorghe CantacuzinoGheorghe CantacuzinoGheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino was a Conservative Romanian politician who twice served as the Prime Minister of Romania: between 23 April 1899 and 19 July 1900 and between 4 January 1906 and 24 March 1907...
(11 April 1899 – 7 July 1900) - Petre P. CarpPetre P. CarpPetre P. Carp , commonly rendered as P. P. Carp, was a Romanian conservative politician and literary critic who served as a Prime Minister of Romania for two terms...
(7 July 1900 – 13 February 1901) - Gheorghe CantacuzinoGheorghe CantacuzinoGheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino was a Conservative Romanian politician who twice served as the Prime Minister of Romania: between 23 April 1899 and 19 July 1900 and between 4 January 1906 and 24 March 1907...
(22 December 1904 – 12 March 1907) - Petre P. CarpPetre P. CarpPetre P. Carp , commonly rendered as P. P. Carp, was a Romanian conservative politician and literary critic who served as a Prime Minister of Romania for two terms...
(29 December 1910 – 28 March 1912) - Titu MaiorescuTitu MaiorescuTitu Liviu Maiorescu was a Romanian literary critic and politician, founder of the Junimea Society. As a literary critic, he was instrumental in the development of Romanian culture in the second half of the 19th century....
(14 October 1912 – 31 December 1913) - Alexandru MarghilomanAlexandru MarghilomanAlexandru Marghiloman was a Romanian conservative statesman who served for a short time in 1918 as Prime Minister of Romania, and had a decisive role during World War I.-Early career:...
(5 March – 24 October 1918)
Party publications
- TimpulTimpulTimpul is a newspaper published in Romania, originally published as the official platform of the defunct Conservative Party....
(15 March 1876 – 17 March 1884; 13 November 1889 – 14 December 1900) - Epoca (16 November 1885 – 14 June 1889; 2 December 1895 – 13 February 1901)
- Conservatorul (15 December 1900 – 15 November 1914)
- Steagul (14 November 1914 – July 1922)