George D. Pallade

George D. Pallade (January 20, 1857–May 27, 1903) was a Romanian politician.

Born to a craftsman in Bârlad,[1] Pallade graduated from the Law faculty of Bucharest University in 1880. After working as an investigating judge in Bucharest, he began practicing as a lawyer. He taught political economy and law at the Free school of political science. His contributions appeared in a number of newspapers, including Românul and Naționalul, and he edited Gazeta poporului.[2]

Pallade joined the National Liberal Party (PNL) in 1884. The same year, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies. where he strongly supported C. A. Rosetti’s call for a single voter roll and press freedom. He then defected to Dumitru Brătianu’s Liberal Democratic Party, vigorously attacking the government of Ion C. Brătianu;[2] the campaign peaked in 1885-1888, when he spoke out both in the Chamber and in the street.[3] He was re-elected in 1888, 1891 and 1895.[1]

In 1891, after the Brătianu brothers made peace, Pallade re-entered the PNL, being named to its executive committee.[1][2] He found the party a useful vehicle for promoting his democratic ideals, in opposition to the conservative boyars, who feared his oratory.[1] He held a number of ministerial portfolios under Dimitrie Sturdza: Agriculture, Industry, Commerce and Domains (October 1895-November 1896), Justice (January-October 1898), Finance (October 1898-March 1899 and February 1901-January 1902) and Interior (July-November 1902).[2] During his second term as Finance Minister, he did not increase the state budget, in order to help Romania out of a severe economic crisis; and also supported protectionist measures against foreign capital.[4]

In 1903, aged 46, Pallade was addressing a public gathering in Bârlad. As he said the word “talisman”, he dropped dead. He was buried at Bellu cemetery.[5]

Notes
  1. Grigore and Șerbu, p. 151
  2. Stan Stoica, Dicționar biografic de istorie a României, p. 420. Bucharest: Editura Meronia, 2008, ISBN 978-973-783-939-8
  3. Dimitrie Rosetti, Dicționarul Contimporanilor, p. 145. Editura Lito-Tipografiei "Populara", Bucharest, 1897
  4. Grigore and Șerbu, p. 152
  5. Grigore and Șerbu, p. 153

References
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