Editing Michael I of Romania (section)

==Return and rehabilitation==

On 25 December 1990—a year after the [[Romanian Revolution of 1989|revolution]] which overthrew the Communist dictatorship of [[Nicolae Ceaușescu]]—Michael, accompanied by several members of the royal family, landed at [[Otopeni Airport]] and entered Romania for the first time in 43 years. Using a Danish diplomatic passport, Michael was able to obtain a 24-hour visa. He intended to reach [[Curtea de Argeș Cathedral]], pray at the tombs of his royal ancestors and attend the Christmas religious service. However, on their way to [[Curtea de Argeș]], the former King and his companions were stopped by a police blockade, taken to the airport and forced to leave the country.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sudetic|first1=Chuck|title=Expelling Former King, Romanians Cite 'Stunt'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/27/world/expelling-former-king-romanians-cite-stunt.html|access-date=30 July 2012|work=The New York Times|date=27 December 1990}}</ref>

In 1992, the Romanian government allowed Michael to return to Romania for Easter celebrations, where he drew large crowds.<ref name="Grdn"/> His speech from the balcony of a Hotel Continental 1st Fl. room drew over 100,000 people. His visit in Bucharest drew over a million people in the streets of the capital to see him.<ref>Kings Without Crowns ''Michael of Romania'', Danish Norsk Television</ref> Michael refused the offer of the president of the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]], [[Radu Câmpeanu]], to run for elections as president of Romania. Michael's popularity alarmed the government of President [[Ion Iliescu]], and he was forbidden to re-visit Romania, being denied entry twice in 1994 and 1995.<ref name="digi24.ro">{{cite web|url=http://www.digi24.ro/Stiri/Digi24/Special/Reportaj/Regele%20Mihai%20intrare%20interzisa%20in%20Romania%20postdecembrista|title=Regele Mihai, de la interzicerea intrării în România la discursul istoric din Parlament|access-date=22 December 2016}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 1997, after Iliescu's defeat by [[Emil Constantinescu]], the Romanian government restored Michael's citizenship and again allowed him to visit the country.<ref name="digi24.ro"/>  He then lived partly in Switzerland at [[Aubonne, Switzerland|Aubonne]] and partly in Romania, either at [[Săvârşin Castle|Săvârșin Castle]] in [[Arad County]] or in an official residence in Bucharest—the [[Elisabeta Palace]]—voted by the Romanian Parliament by a law concerning arrangements for former heads of state. Besides Săvârșin Castle, the former private residences [[Peleș Castle]] and [[Pelișor Castle]] were also restituted. While Peleș and Pelișor are open to the public, Elisabeta Palace and Săvârșin are used as private residences. 
<gallery>
File:Elisabeta Palace front1.jpg|[[Elisabeta Palace]], [[Bucharest]]
File:01 Chateau Peles.jpg|[[Peleș Castle]], [[Sinaia]]
File:Pelisor Castle, Sinaia.jpg|[[Pelișor Castle]], [[Sinaia]]
File:CastelulSavar.jpg|[[Săvârşin Castle|Săvârșin Castle]], [[Arad County]]
</gallery>