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akened when GoldiÈ and others defected to the PP, the PNR became "second-fiddle" to the Peasantist caucus. In the subsequent national election of June, the PNR and PÈ formed a National–Peasant Bloc, which took 27% of the vote and 69 seats in the Assembly of Deputies. As the PÈ agreed to a full merger, the PNR lost support from Nicolae Iorga's semi-independent faction, who went on to reestablish itself as a Democratic Nationalist Party. The fusion was enshrined at a PNR–PÈ congress on October 10, 1926. Also then, Maniu was voted in as chairman; Mihalache, Lupu, Vaida-Voevod and Paul BrÄtÄÈanu were vice presidents, while Madgearu became general secretary and Mihai Popovici cashier. From October 17, 1927, the party central organ became Dreptatea, though the party continued to publish various other periodicals, including Patria. On November 21 of that year, the party was admitted into the International Agrarian Bureau. The National–Peasantist fusion could not lead to an immediate challenge to the PNL supremacy. The party dropped to 22% and 54 deputies after the June 1927 election. With Ferdinand terminally ill, it reluctantly backed Barbu Ètirbey's nominally independent cabinet, which was in practice a National Liberal front. Its leadership also rejected a pact with Averescu's group, pushing it into further into political insignificance. These events also overlapped with a dynastic crisis: after Ferdinand's death in July 1927, the throne went to his minor grandson Michael I—Michael's disgraced father Carol having been forced to renounce his claim and pushed into exile. The arrangement was resented by both the PNL and the PNR. For different reasons, both groups sketched out plans to depose Michael and turn Romania into a republic. The unexpected death of PNL chairman Ion I. C. BrÄtianu pushed the PNÈ back into full-blown opposition: "All hopes focused on the democratic movement of renewal, outstandingly represented by Iuliu Maniu." The party withdrew its elected representatives and pushed citizens to engage in tax resistance. In creating a web of tactical alliances, it reconfirmed its pact with the BMÈ, while still shunning the PP. The PNÈ's first general congress was held on May 6, 1928 at Alba Iulia. It marked an early peak of PNÈ revolutionary activity, gathering between 100,000 and 200,000 supporters. Observers expected that the columns would then "march on Bucharest", by analogy with the March on Rome. This never happened, but the showing impressed the Regents into deposing the PNL cabinet and handing power to Maniu. Carol reportedly watched on as the events unfolded: at the time, Maniu "remain silent" as to whether he would back him for the throne. In fact, Maniu and Aurel LeucuÈia promised him the PNÈ's backing if he accepted a set of conditions, including un-divorcing Helen of Greece; Carol reluctantly agreed. Maniu was adamant that Caro
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