A statue of Romanian 19th century politician and former Prime Minister Ion C Bratianu, which was melted during the communist regime, will be re-built and placed in the Piata Universitatii area of Bucharest, the city's general council has decided.

The nine-meter statue, built in the beginning of the 20th century by French sculptor Ernest Henri Dubois following a contest, was melted down in 1948, after the communists came to power. It used to be located in Piata Universitatii too, but in a different spot.

Authorities want to locate the new statue across the street from the Bucharest history Museum, and near the Coltea hospital and the Agriculture Museum, according to Mediafax newswire. It is yet uncertain whether Bratianu's statue would replace the existing statue on site, the broken violin, or stand next to it.

The council's decision does not reveal the cost of this statue, but says it will be covered by local funds.

Ion C Bratianu was among the leaders of the 1848 generation, together with Nicolae Balcescu, CA. Rosetti and his brother, Dumitru Bratianu. He led the Government during the Independence War in 1877 and created the Romanian Kingdom in 1881, also giving Romania the chance to be ruled by a German prince, Carol I.

Ion C Bratianu, the creator of the National Liberal Party, led the Romanian Government for 12 years in a row, one of the longest periods of governmental stability in Romania. Under his rule, between 1876 and 1888, Romania got its independence, created the National Bank and started to modernize its state.

editor@romania-insider.com