Romanian PM opposes bill granting more privileges to King Michael’s heirs

Romanian prime minister Mihai Tudose disagrees with the draft project on the status of the Royal House initiated by Senate president Calin Popescu Tariceanu and Chamber of Deputies speaker Liviu Dragnea. He said the Government will give a negative opinion on this. "Romania is not a monarchy, but a republic. The Elisabeta Palace must return to the Romanian state. The members of the Royal House can stay in Savarsin or elsewhere,” Tudose said on Thursday in an informal meeting with the press, according to Mediafax. Senate president Calin Popescu Tariceanu and Liviu Dragnea, president of the Chamber of Deputies, submitted on November 7 a bill to regulate the legal status of the Royal House of Romania, which provides for its recognition as a public utility legal entity. "The financing of the running costs of the Royal House of Romania is secured from the state budget, within the limit approved annually through Government Decision", according to the draft bill submitted to the Parliament one month ago. The bill also provides that late King Michael’s heirs will have the same status as former heads of state and that the Royal House of Romania will be able to use for free the Elisabeta Palace in Bucharest as its headquarters. Princess Margareta, King Michael's oldest daughter, is the head of the Royal House of Romania and the Custodian of the Crown after her father's death. Prime minister Mihai Tudose, who disapproves with this bill, is from the Social Democratic Party, which is led by Liviu Dragnea, one of the bill’s initiators. Thousands queue in Bucharest to say goodbye to King Michael Romania’s Princess Margareta will not use Queen title editor@romania-insider.com