Mitiță Constantinescu
Mitiţă Constantinescu | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Bucharest, Romania |
| Died | 1946 |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, politician |
| Years active | 1918–1946 |
| Known for | Promotion of industrial development and state-directed economic policies; Governor of the National Bank of Romania; Minister of Finance |
Mitiţă Constantinescu (October 20, 1890–1946) was a Romanian economist and liberal political figure, recognized for his promotion of industrial development and state-directed economic policies.
Biography
Originating from Bucharest, Constantinescu completed his studies at Gheorghe Lazăr High School and earned a degree from the Faculty of Law at the University of Bucharest. His pursuit of a doctoral degree in Paris was interrupted by Romania’s involvement in World War I and his subsequent military service.
In 1918, he assumed the role of chief of staff at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce within the National Liberal Party (PNL) government led by Ion I. C. Brătianu. Between 1922 and 1926, he held the position of General Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Royal Domains. He represented Hunedoara County as a PNL deputy from 1927 until 1933 and was appointed Governor of the National Bank of Romania from 1935 to 1940. Under King Carol II’s authoritarian regime and during the era of the National Renaissance Front, he served as Minister of Finance in 1939.
During World War II, Constantinescu opposed Ion Antonescu's fascist regime and consequently retreated from political engagement. In 1946, he participated as a member of Romania’s delegation to the Paris Peace Conference, which was headed by Gheorghe Tătărescu. Subsequently, he allied with the Romanian Communist Party by establishing the small progressive organization Liga Patrioţilor (League of Patriots), later led by communist Petre Constantinescu-Iaşi. He authored the work Continentul URSS, which conveyed endorsement for Stalinism and the Soviet Union.
A chamber within the National Bank of Romania bears his name in recognition of his contributions.