Iuliu Maniu

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Maniu, Iuliu (b. 8 Jan. 1873, d. 3 Jan. 1953). Prime Minister of Romania 1928–30, 1932–3 Born in Simleul-Silvaniei (Transylvania), he was elected to the Hungarian Parliament in 1906, where he pressed for the minority rights of Romanians living in his home area. He served in the Austro-Hungarian army, but in May 1918 helped to organize a successful mutiny of Romanian troops. He became a pivotal figure in achieving Transylvanian admission to Romania in 1919. His political experience served him well as a leading member of the Transylvanian Nationalist Party (TNP), which he made into a major political force on the platform of nationalism. In 1926, he became leader of the National Peasant Party (NPP), after the merger of the TNP with the Peasant Party. The NPP received over 75 per cent of the vote in the 1928 elections. His government tried to attract foreign investment, promoted the consolidation of agricultural lands, and generally passed legislation to favour the peasantry. Ultimately, however, his reforms had limited effect owing to the onset of the Great Depression. Weakened by inter-party squabbles and the return of Carol II, he resigned in 1930. Despite his hostility to Carol, he briefly returned as Prime Minister, only to resume his opposition to the King in 1933. To this end, he even formed a brief alliance with the Fascist Iron Guard in 1937. Despite initial support for Antonescu, he became a leading member of the resistance movement and was instrumental in overthrowing Antonescu in 1944, and bringing Romania into the war against Germany. Although he had been allied with the Soviet Union, he was a strong anti-Communist and in 1947 was imprisoned by the new regime, and sentenced to solitary confinement for life. He died in prison.

Iuliu Maniu , 1873–1951, Romanian politician, head of the Romanian National Peasants' party. Born in Transylvania, he helped to organize the Romanian national movement there before and during World War I. In 1918 he headed the Romanian provisional government. As premier (with one slight interruption) from 1928 to 1930, he enacted liberal reforms, which were soon abrogated by King Carol II . He was briefly premier again in 1932–33. Maniu opposed Carol and the dictatorship of Ion Antonescu . Denounced as a reactionary by the Communists, in 1947 he was convicted of treason and given a life sentence. He was unofficially reported to have died in prison.