Nicolae Carandino
Encyclopedia
Nicolae Carandino was a Romania
n journalist, pamphleteer, translator, dramatist, and politician.
He was born in Brăila
into a family of intellectuals. After completing high school in Brăila in 1923, he went to college in Bucharest
, graduating in 1926. He then pursued his graduate studies in Paris
for three years, during which time he married Lilly Carandino. Upon his return to Romania, he was editor in chief of Facla (a left-wing publication run by N. D. Cocea
), and a collaborator or editor at various other publications, including Credinţa, Reporter, Azi
, Floarea de Foc. Between 1938 and 1944, he served as Vice-President of the Journalists' Union.
During World War II
, soon after the Legionnaires' Rebellion
, Carandino became director of the National Theatre Bucharest
, replacing Haig Acterian
(who had been arrested for his Iron Guard
membership). Because of his opposition to the authoritarian
regime of Ion Antonescu
, he was imprisoned in 1942 in a penitentiary camp near Târgu Jiu
.
A member of the National Peasants' Party
, he was, from 1944 to 1947, the editor of its newspaper, Dreptatea
. During the period, he was also appointed by his political grouping to the board of the new Journalists' Union, and became a member of a committee charged with purging supporters of former far right
regimes from the press (the committee was dominated by Romanian Communist Party
members, and presided over by Emil Socor).
Carandino was one of the four politicians who were part of the National Peasants' Party leadership designated by party leader Iuliu Maniu
to leave the country and create a credible and competent nucleus of Romanian anti-Communist
resistance in the West
, a move which resulted in the Tămădău Affair
and their arrest on the morning of July 14, 1947. Of the defendants tried alongside Maniu, he was the last survivor. After this trial, he was sentenced to six years' hard labour and two years' loss of civil rights
, his property was confiscated and he had to pay 1,000 lei
in court fees.
After the Romanian Revolution
against the communist regime
, when Dreptatea resumed publication in 1990, he became its honorary director. That year, he was also made honorary member of the revived National Peasants' Party.
Carandino, who was a gifted columnist
, relates an interesting anecdote in his memoirs: a young man reproached Carandino for not helping him; he replied: "I can help someone, but I can't replace him." He added, "I'm an old man now; going down the road of life I can see the end. When I turn back and look, I wonder why, if my own future is brief, others aren't coming up the road? Where are those who ought to be coming?"
He died at Hospital nr. 10 "Sf. Sava" in Bucharest. After a service at Boteanu Church, he was buried in Străuleşti Cemetery on February 21, 1996.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n journalist, pamphleteer, translator, dramatist, and politician.
He was born in Brăila
Braila
Brăila is a city in Muntenia, eastern Romania, a port on the Danube and the capital of Brăila County, in the close vicinity of Galaţi.According to the 2002 Romanian census there were 216,292 people living within the city of Brăila, making it the 10th most populous city in Romania.-History:A...
into a family of intellectuals. After completing high school in Brăila in 1923, he went to college in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, graduating in 1926. He then pursued his graduate studies in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for three years, during which time he married Lilly Carandino. Upon his return to Romania, he was editor in chief of Facla (a left-wing publication run by N. D. Cocea
N. D. Cocea
N. D. Cocea was a Romanian journalist, novelist, critic and left-wing political activist, known as a major but controversial figure in the field of political satire...
), and a collaborator or editor at various other publications, including Credinţa, Reporter, Azi
Azi (Romanian newspaper)
Azi is a Romanian daily newspaper published in Bucharest....
, Floarea de Foc. Between 1938 and 1944, he served as Vice-President of the Journalists' Union.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, soon after the Legionnaires' Rebellion
Legionnaires' Rebellion and Bucharest Pogrom
The Legionnaires' rebellion and the Bucharest pogrom occurred in Bucharest, Romania, between 21 and 23 January 1941.As the privileges of the Iron Guard were being cut off by Conducător Ion Antonescu, members of the Iron Guard, also known as the Legionnaires, revolted...
, Carandino became director of the National Theatre Bucharest
National Theatre Bucharest
The National Theatre Bucharest is one of the national theatres of Romania, located in the capital city of Bucharest.-Founding:It was founded as the Teatrul cel Mare din Bucureşti in 1852, its first director being Costache Caragiale...
, replacing Haig Acterian
Haig Acterian
Haig Acterian was a Romanian film and theater director, critic, dramatist, poet, journalist, and fascist political activist...
(who had been arrested for his Iron Guard
Iron Guard
The Iron Guard is the name most commonly given to a far-right movement and political party in Romania in the period from 1927 into the early part of World War II. The Iron Guard was ultra-nationalist, fascist, anti-communist, and promoted the Orthodox Christian faith...
membership). Because of his opposition to the authoritarian
Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism is a form of social organization characterized by submission to authority. It is usually opposed to individualism and democracy...
regime of Ion Antonescu
Ion Antonescu
Ion Victor Antonescu was a Romanian soldier, authoritarian politician and convicted war criminal. The Prime Minister and Conducător during most of World War II, he presided over two successive wartime dictatorships...
, he was imprisoned in 1942 in a penitentiary camp near Târgu Jiu
Târgu Jiu
Târgu Jiu is the capital of Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It is situated on the Southern Sub-Carpathians, on the banks of the river Jiu. Eight villages are administered by the city: Bârseşti, Drăgoeni, Iezureni, Polata, Preajba Mare, Româneşti, Slobozia and Ursaţi.-History:The city takes its name...
.
A member of the National Peasants' Party
National Peasants' Party
The National Peasants' Party was a Romanian political party, formed in 1926 through the fusion of the Romanian National Party from Transylvania and the Peasants' Party . It was in power between 1928 and 1933, with brief interruptions...
, he was, from 1944 to 1947, the editor of its newspaper, Dreptatea
Dreptatea
Dreptatea was a Romanian newspaper that appeared between 17 October 1927 and 17 July 1947, as a newspaper of the National Peasants' Party. It was re-founded on February 5, 1990 as a publication of the Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party ....
. During the period, he was also appointed by his political grouping to the board of the new Journalists' Union, and became a member of a committee charged with purging supporters of former far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
regimes from the press (the committee was dominated by Romanian Communist Party
Romanian Communist Party
The Romanian Communist Party was a communist political party in Romania. Successor to the Bolshevik wing of the Socialist Party of Romania, it gave ideological endorsement to communist revolution and the disestablishment of Greater Romania. The PCR was a minor and illegal grouping for much of the...
members, and presided over by Emil Socor).
Carandino was one of the four politicians who were part of the National Peasants' Party leadership designated by party leader Iuliu Maniu
Iuliu Maniu
Iuliu Maniu was an Austro-Hungarian-born Romanian politician. A leader of the National Party of Transylvania and Banat before and after World War I, he served as Prime Minister of Romania for three terms during 1928–1933, and, with Ion Mihalache, co-founded the National Peasants'...
to leave the country and create a credible and competent nucleus of Romanian anti-Communist
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
resistance in the West
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
, a move which resulted in the Tămădău Affair
Tamadau Affair
The Tămădău Affair was an incident that took place in Romania in the summer of 1947, the source of a political scandal and show trial.It was provoked when an important number of National Peasants' Party leaders, including party vice president Ion Mihalache, had been offered a chance to flee...
and their arrest on the morning of July 14, 1947. Of the defendants tried alongside Maniu, he was the last survivor. After this trial, he was sentenced to six years' hard labour and two years' loss of civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
, his property was confiscated and he had to pay 1,000 lei
Romanian leu
The leu is the currency of Romania. It is subdivided into 100 bani . The name of the currency means "lion". On 1 July 2005, Romania underwent a currency reform, switching from the previous leu to a new leu . 1 RON is equal to 10,000 ROL...
in court fees.
After the Romanian Revolution
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
against the communist regime
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
, when Dreptatea resumed publication in 1990, he became its honorary director. That year, he was also made honorary member of the revived National Peasants' Party.
Carandino, who was a gifted columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
, relates an interesting anecdote in his memoirs: a young man reproached Carandino for not helping him; he replied: "I can help someone, but I can't replace him." He added, "I'm an old man now; going down the road of life I can see the end. When I turn back and look, I wonder why, if my own future is brief, others aren't coming up the road? Where are those who ought to be coming?"
He died at Hospital nr. 10 "Sf. Sava" in Bucharest. After a service at Boteanu Church, he was buried in Străuleşti Cemetery on February 21, 1996.