Richard Franasovici

Richard Franasovici (April 8, 1883 – July 24, 1964) was a Romanian politician.

Born in Turnu Severin, his family was of Aromanian descent. They had settled in the town around 1830, but kept Austrian citizenship until 1906. After attending primary school in his native city, Franasovici went to Saint Sava National College in Bucharest, graduating in 1900. He graduated from the law faculty of the University of Bucharest in 1904. The following year, he was named judge's assistant for the Balș district. In 1906, he became a lawyer at the Turnu Severin city hall, as well as state's attorney for Mehedinți County.

Initially a member of the Conservative Party, he defected to Take Ionescu’s new Conservative-Democratic Party in 1908. He served as an officer in World War I. After the war, he entered the National Liberal Party (PNL) as part of its younger wing, opposed to the Brătianu family’s domination. Franasovici was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1919.

By 1937, Franasovici was a prominent member of the royal camarilla. That November, although Tătărescu had other candidates in mind, he was named Interior Minister upon the insistence of Dinu Brătianu. The appointment was seconded by camarilla colleague Gabriel Marinescu. The ministry traditionally grew in importance at election time, due to its repressive capabilities. At the time, an election was approaching. Franasovici was presented to the public as a choice who would guarantee the integrity of the vote. He had a conciliatory attitude, particularly toward the Iron Guard, whose reprisals he greatly feared.

In November 1947, he resigned from the diplomatic service and went into exile. The following February, the new communist regime stripped him of his citizenship. He died in Paris.