Isn't that just a matter of how you look at things? The late Dom Pedro Gastao was rather sure about his claim and some say that the renouncement of the rights of his father (due to his marriage to a Polish countess) was invalid and thus he and his side of the family is still entitled to be the head of the Imperial family.
Another thing, I was wondering if Dom Antonio is as ultra-catholic as his eldest brother?
On another note, didn´t Pedro Carlos once said that he wasn´t too interested in the headship of the (Petrepolis branch) of the family? Didn´t one of his brothers or cousins replace him or something like that? A miguel I believe to remember?
The father of Dom gastão renounced his position. Just like the older uncles of Juan Carlos I, king of Spain and Dom Duarte, duke of Braganza.
And why should someone support a republican branch?
Yes, that´s right. The Petrópolis´s branch is
REPUBLICAN.
They said that to a spanish news magazine, you can read it here (in spanish):
http://www.publico.es/internacional/35312
I translated a few lines:
[...]
(In spanish) Francisco –51 años, economista, tatuaje de la rosa de los vientos en el brazo– es el prototipo de príncipe republicano. Sin trono. Y orgulloso de ello.
(In portuguese) Francisco - 51 anos, economista, tatuagem da rosa dos ventos no braço - é o protótipo de príncipe republicano. Sem trono. E orgulho disto.
(in english) Francisco - 51 years, economist, with a tatoo of the "rosa dos ventos" (rose of winds) in his arm - it´s a prototype of a republican prince. Without a throne, but proud of this fact.
Francisco is a son of Pedro Gastão who died some weeks ago and is a grandson of the prince whou renounced his position.
[...]
(In spanish) Pero cuando a Francisco se le pregunta por la monarquía, lo tiene claro: “Yo soy republicano. La monarquía en Brasil no funcionaría”.
(In portuguese) E quando perguntam a Francisco sobre a monarquia, a resposta é clara: "Eu sou republicano. A monarquia no Brasil não funcionaria."
(In english) And when Francisco´s asked about monarchy, the answer is clear: "I am a republican. The monarchy in Brazil wouldn´t work."
More clear than that, it´s impossible. Let´s go on with a few other lines:
(In spanish) De hecho, el príncipe-sin-trono-pero-con-cervecería-y-periódico, pertenece al Ramo de Petrópolis, como son conocidos los descendientes de Pedro de Alcântara de Orleáns y Bragança (1875–1940). Un ramo progresista y republicano.
(In portuguese) De fato, o príncipe-sem-trono-mas-com-cervejaria-e-periódico, pertence ao Ramo de Petrópolis, como são conhecidos os descendentes de Pedro de Alcântara de Orléans e Bragança (1875-1940). Um ramo progressista e republicano.
(In english) It´s true, the prince-without-a-throne-but-with-a-brewery-and-news-magazine, belongs to the Petrópolis branch, as the descendents of Pedro de Alcântara of Olréans and Braganza (1875-1940) are known. A republican and progressist branch.
Another one from the same interview:
(In spanish) Pedro renunció a los derechos dinásticos en 1908 para casarse con la checa Isabel de Dobrzenicz. Y abrió el camino de la saga de los príncipes sin trono: bodas con plebeyos.
(In portuguese) Pedro renunciou aos direitos dinásticos em 1908 para casar-se com a tcheca Elizabeth de Dobrzenicz. E abriu o caminho para a saga dos príncipes sem trono: casamentos com plebeus.
(In English) Pedro renounced his dynastic rights in 1908 so that he could marry the czech Elizabeth Dobrzenicz. And he opened the way to the saga of princes without a throne: marriages with commoners.
And another one:
(In spanish) “Creo que somos republicanos porque hay que adaptarse a la realidad. Además, somos respetados porque somos una família trabajadora”, asegura a Público Pedro Carlos de Orléans e Bragança, primogénito del ramo de Petrópolis.
(In portuguese) “Creio que somos republicanos por que temos que nos adaptar a realidade. Além do mais, somos respeitados por sermos uma familia trabalhadora” assegura públicamente Pedro Carlos de Orléans e Bragança, primogênito do ramo de Petrópolis.
(In english) "I believe that we are republicans because we need to adapt ourselves to reality. Besides, we´re respected because we are a family that works a lot" as Pedro Carlos of Orléans and Braganza, eldest of the Petrópolis branch openly assures.
Pedro Carlos is the oldest son of the late Dom Gastão and supposed "heir". A republican heir to an extinct monarchy?
(In spanish) Hubo presiones y boicot general. No pudimos hacer una campaña decente. Seguimos creyendo que la Monarquía puede ejercer un papel de moderador en la sociedad”, asegura a Público Antônio João de Orleáns e Bragança, del conservador ramo de Vassouras.
(In portuguese) Houve pressão e boicote geral. Não podemos fazer uma campanha decente. Continuamos a acreditar que a Monarquia pode exercer um papel moderador na sociedade”, asegura públicamente Dom Antônio João de Orleans e Bragança do ramo conservador de Vassouras.
(In english) There was a pression and general boycotting. We couldnt´make a decent campaign. But we still believe the Monarchy could moderate the society", openly assures Dom Antonio João of Orléans and Braganza. from the conservative Vassouras branch.
Dom Antonio is the brother and second in the line of succession to Dom Luiz, just after his brother Dom Bertrand.
(In spanish) La diferencia con el aperturista ramo de Petrópolis es patente. “Si hoy se repitiese el plebiscito, nuestra postura sería la misma, la republicana”, afirma Pedro de Orleáns y Brangança.
(In portuguese) A diferença com o aberto ramo de Petrópolis é patente. “Se hoje se repetisse o plebisicito, nossa postura seria a mesma, republicana” afirma Pedro Carlos de Orleans e Bragança.
(In english) The differency between the Petrópolis and Vassouras branches are clear. "If there was another plebiscit again, our posture would be the same, that is, republican", as Pedro Carlos of Orléans and Braganza assures.
The "heir" of Pedro Gastão spoke. Is there someone else in here who still believe that the Petrópolis branch should be called "legitimate"?
