The National Peasant Party marked 100 years since its founding

The National Peasant Party (PNȚ) marked a century since its founding on October 10. The party emerged through the merger of the party led by Iuliu Maniu and the one led by Ion Mihalache, representing, at the time, a synthesis between defending the rights of Romanians in Transylvania and the social emancipation of the peasantry in the Kingdom of Romania.

The anniversary took place at the Petőfi Sándor Cultural Center in Bucharest, organized by the Maniu-Mihalache PNȚ. President Nicușor Dan, former head of state Emil Constantinescu, and other political figures attended the event.

The PNȚ’s historic program promoted parliamentarianism, decentralization, the rule of law, and private property. The party opposed the authoritarian deviations of the 1930s, including the royal dictatorship of 1938–1940 and the rise of extremist movements.

After the communist regime was installed, the PNȚ was dissolved, and its leaders were persecuted. Iuliu Maniu died in 1953, in Sighet, while Ion Mihalache died in 1963, in Râmnicu Sărat.

After 1989, former PNȚ members, led by Corneliu Coposu, reconstituted the party under the name PNȚCD, which governed Romania between 1996 and 2000. President Nicușor Dan announced at the ceremony the promulgation of the law declaring 2026 the Centenary Year of the National Peasant Party.