Mihai Popovici (21 October 1879 – 7 May 1966) was anAustro-Hungarian-bornRomanian politician.
Born inBrașov, he studied at thelocal Romanian high school and then at the universities ofBudapest andVienna, earning anundergraduate degree inphilosophy and adoctorate inlaw. He belonged to theRomanian National Party (PNR) and was active as an opinion journalist. After the PNR merged with thePeasants' Party in 1926 to form theNational Peasants' Party (PNȚ), he became vice president of the new organization.[1]
In 1916, when theRomanian Old Kingdom entered World War I, he enlisted in theRomanian Army and helped organize theRomanian Volunteer Corps in Russia. He belonged to the national committee of Romanian emigrants from Austria-Hungary, set up atOdessa in January 1918. That December, he took part inthe assembly atAlba Iulia that approved theunion of Transylvania with Romania. Popovici was subsequently elected to the temporary ruling authority in the province, the Directing Council. In 1919, hewas elected to theAssembly of Deputies, in the first parliament ofGreater Romania.[1]
During the following decade, he held two ministerial posts:Public Works (December 1919-March 1920) andFinance (January 1927, November 1928-October 1929). He was among the PNȚ supporters of bringingPrince Carol, who had renounced his succession rights, to theRomanian throne. In 1926–1927, together with other prominent politicians, he visited Carol in Paris, urging him to take the throne. Popovici served asInterior Minister from 7 to 8 June 1930, in the cabinet ofGheorghe Mironescu that was charged by the regency acting on behalf of the minorKing Michael with overseeing Carol's assumption of power. He subsequently held two more portfolios: Finance (June–October 1930, October 1930-April 1931) andJustice (October 1931-January 1933, January–November 1933).[1]
Popovici remained close to the king as the latter became increasingly authoritarian, and during theNational Renaissance Front regime promised him the PNȚ would not stand in his way.[2] He took part in the 29–30 August 1940 session of theCrown Council that approved the cession ofNorthern Transylvania toHungary. PNȚ leaderIuliu Maniu proposed Popovici as a minister in the subsequent government ofIon Antonescu, which the latter declined.[3] In August 1947, in the wake of theTămădău Affair and shortly before the establishment of acommunist regime, he was arrested and incarcerated atSighet prison. Released in July 1955, he died inBucharest in 1966.[3][4]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
