KING CAROL TONIGHT APPARENTLY FACED A CHOICE BETWEEN DESIGNATING AN AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENT FOR RUMANIA OR CALLING FOR NEW ELECTIONS AFTER THE FAILURE OF PREMIER GEORG TATARESCU’S LIBERAL PARTY TO ATTAIN A STABLE MAJORITY IN LAST MONDAY’S CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES ELECTIONS.
THE LIBERALS, BY POLLING LESS THAN 40 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL VOTE, FAILED TO BENEFIT FROM A LAW WHICH WOULD HAVE GIVEN THEM 50 PER CENT OF THE SEATS IN THE CHAMBER AS WELL AS THEIR PROPORTIONAL SHARE OF THE REMAINING SEATS. THIS CARRIED WITH IT THE CERTAINTY THAT TATARESCU’S GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO ENLARGE ITS PARLIAMENTARY BASE IF IT COULD HOPE TO ENDURE. THE NEW PARLIAMENT MEETS NEXT FEB. 17.
IF THE PREMIER SHOULD ATTEMPT TO RESHAPE HIS CABINET, HE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK EITHER TO THE NATIONAL PEASANTS, ON THE LEFT, OR TO THE DISSIDENT LIBERALS AND PRO-FASCIST IRON GUARD, ON THE RIGHT. IN EITHER CASE, IT WAS BELIEVED, HIS REGIME WOULD BE A SHAKY ONE, VULNERABLE TO ATTACKS FROM BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT EXTREMISTS.
THE POSSIBILITY THAT CAROL WOULD OPEN THE WAY TO AN AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENT WAS WIDELY AND ANXIOUSLY DISCUSSED. PUBLIC OPINION SHOWED EVIDENT UNEASINESS, AND THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT EFFORTS TO CALL IN A “STRONG MAN” TO SOLVE THE PRESENT SITUATION WOULD ENCOUNTER CONSIDERABLE OPPOSITION. THE ONLY OTHER ALTERNATIVE WAS TO FORM A TEMPORARY GOVERNMENT ASSIGNED TO ARRANGE FOR NEW ELECTIONS.
THE LIBERALS’ FAILURE TO ACHIEVE A STABLE MAJORITY WAS EXPLAINED BY THE FACT THAT RUMANIAN ECONOMY HAS LONG BEEN IN A CRITICAL STATE UNDER THE PARTY’S REGIME, AND MANY OF THE VOTERS EVIDENTLY FELT TATARESCU’S GROUP TO BLAME.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
