A Fighter for the Union of the Principalities: Anastasie Panu

Abstract

"Between 20 October 1858 and 5 January 1859 (according to the old calendar), Anastasie Panu was a member of the Three-Kaymakam rule, installed in Moldova under a provision of the Paris Convention on the definitive organization of the Romanian Principalities. He was, in that capacity and for that 77-day period, the most important Unionist politician, with a decisive role in the ""course"" of the Moldavian events that preceded the election of Alexandru I. Cuza as ruler. It is to him that we owe, to an overwhelming extent, the restoration of the freedom of the press (by reinstating Grigorie Al. Ghica's law of May 1856), the full affirmation of the country's autonomy through an effective exercise, ensuring a (relative) majority of the National Party in the Elective Assembly of Moldavia, the introduction of the letterhead of the United Principalities on all official documents; finally, through the so-called ""Panu Plan"", ""paving"" the road to the throne of Moldavia for Colonel Alexandru I. Cuza. Therefore, this Unionist leader should be given not only our modest presentation, but a monument more enduring than bronze - if we may paraphrase the ancient poet: and not (almost) the oblivion bequeathed by an unjust posterity."