The lawmakers observed a moment’s silence in memory of Dumitru Matcovschi, who departed this life last night. MP Ion Hadarca said the funeral day should be declared a national mourning day, IPN reports.

“Last night was a national mourning night as Dumitru Matcovschi’s heart stopped beating. It is a great loss for the nation. He kept the national dignity flame burning. Since the 1970s until present, the plays of dramatist Matcovschi made the headlines at the National Theater. His novels were translated into a number of languages,” said Ion Hadarca, adding that Dumitru Matcovschi’s articles brought new vigor to the National Renaissance Movement.

The lawmaker also said that the tragic accident of May 1989, as a result of which he developed a brain tumor, marked the poet’s personality. “Nichita Stanescu said the poet was a speaking blood stain. This was Matcovschi’s creed. I think that the funeral day should be declared a national mourning day all over the Romanian area,” stated Ion Hadarca.

Dumitru Matcovschi died at the age of 73 about two weeks after undergoing brain surgery.