The merger with the Peasantists did take place in October 1926, giving rise to the National Peasants' Party (PNȚ).
Filipescu and other takiști found themselves increasingly isolated, and in April 1927 defected to the PP.
Speaking at a PP rally in Focșani before the campaign of 1928, he declared himself an enemy of "demagoguery", but also acknowledged that Romania was ripe for democracy.
Filipescu also denounced the PNL's "dictatorship" and claimed to expose the government's incompetence.
Filipescu was still focused on attacking Știrbey and the PNL's Brătianu family.
However, he soon found himself at odds with Averescu, who had asked him to be lenient on Știrbey.
Instead, together with his followers, Filipescu left the PP for a second and final time, in March 1929.

He founded the Vlad Țepeș League (LVȚ) in June 1929, amidst a campaign he supported to place Prince Carol, Știrbey's enemy, on the throne.
As noted by one of its members, the industrialist Alfred Cerchez, the League had the Carlist agenda for a primary objective.
Carol returned triumphantly in 1930, after a campaign in which Epoca represented the moderate side.
Filipescu debated with the more radical Carlist Nae Ionescu, who had been harshly critical of the Romanian Regency regime.
Adding to the ambiguities was that Știrbey also supported the returning king, as did Filipescu's German enemies.
In late 1930, Filipescu intercepted and published a letter from the German Ambassador Gerhard von Mutius, in which the latter excoriated Epoca and defended Știrbey.
Filipescu, who demanded a duel, accused von Mutius of being the agent of German revisionism.

Beyond its monarchist agenda, the LVȚ was eclectic and factionalized, including in its ranks national conservatives or fascist sympathizers such as Amos Frâncu and Gheorghe Cantacuzino-Grănicerul.
Filipescu's own support for Carlism was read by Western observers as a form of right-wing extremism.
Around 1930, he was referred to in the English-speaking media as a "Baby Fascist" or a Romanian replica of Adolf Hitler.
However, a keen observer of foreign politics, Filipescu was a frequent critic of Benito Mussolini's Italy, which caused him to decline the post of Foreign Minister.

Reconciling with Titulescu, who supported similar views at the League of Nations, Filipescu became the first president of the Romanian Telephone Company (SART), partly privatized in 1929, serving from 1930 until his death.
He also presided over the Tobacco Monopoly and a number of other commercial enterprises.
His term at SART saw the purchase of controlling interest by ITT Corporation, then the construction of the Bucharest Telephone Palace, completed in 1933, and back then the tallest building in Romania.
This assignment became the focus of additional controversy, with critics noting that, although the company was profitable, and the third-largest ITT subsidiary, services had improved only by a slim margin.
He was denounced by the PNȚ's Virgil Madgearu, who audited the Company and found that Filipescu took a monthly salary of 100,000 lei, more than three times what a minister made—and, effectively, a lifeline for Epoca.
A nationalist deputy, Leon Scridon, also accused Filipescu of running errands for Hungarian and Jewish entrepreneurs, and publicized alleged proof of mismanagement.
For his part, Filipescu noted that the Romanian state was habitually cheating on the company's American shareholders, diverting investments and forcing them to accept redundant employees.
From his managerial position, Filipescu also obtained intercepts of calls.
This allowed him to spy on behalf of Carol, who consequently protected Filipescu against all backlash.

By April 1931, Filipescu and the LVȚ were backing the Maniu government, being opposed to the dissolution of Parliament—as demanded by the other opposition parties.
In return, Filipescu asked and obtained for himself the prefecture of Ilfov County.
This office was widely seen as beyond his prestige and competence, but he explained that he cold contribute to regional prosperity.
Also winning a Senate seat in th
The merger with the Peasantists did take place in October 1926, giving rise to the National Peasants' Party (PNȚ). Filipescu and other takiști found themselves increasingly isolated, and in April 1927 defected to the PP. Speaking at a PP rally in Focșani before the campaign of 1928, he declared himself an enemy of "demagoguery", but also acknowledged that Romania was ripe for democracy. Filipescu also denounced the PNL's "dictatorship" and claimed to expose the government's incompetence. Filipescu was still focused on attacking Știrbey and the PNL's Brătianu family. However, he soon found himself at odds with Averescu, who had asked him to be lenient on Știrbey. Instead, together with his followers, Filipescu left the PP for a second and final time, in March 1929.
He founded the Vlad Țepeș League (LVȚ) in June 1929, amidst a campaign he supported to place Prince Carol, Știrbey's enemy, on the throne. As noted by one of its members, the industrialist Alfred Cerchez, the League had the Carlist agenda for a primary objective. Carol returned triumphantly in 1930, after a campaign in which Epoca represented the moderate side. Filipescu debated with the more radical Carlist Nae Ionescu, who had been harshly critical of the Romanian Regency regime. Adding to the ambiguities was that Știrbey also supported the returning king, as did Filipescu's German enemies. In late 1930, Filipescu intercepted and published a letter from the German Ambassador Gerhard von Mutius, in which the latter excoriated Epoca and defended Știrbey. Filipescu, who demanded a duel, accused von Mutius of being the agent of German revisionism.
Beyond its monarchist agenda, the LVȚ was eclectic and factionalized, including in its ranks national conservatives or fascist sympathizers such as Amos Frâncu and Gheorghe Cantacuzino-Grănicerul. Filipescu's own support for Carlism was read by Western observers as a form of right-wing extremism. Around 1930, he was referred to in the English-speaking media as a "Baby Fascist" or a Romanian replica of Adolf Hitler. However, a keen observer of foreign politics, Filipescu was a frequent critic of Benito Mussolini's Italy, which caused him to decline the post of Foreign Minister.
Reconciling with Titulescu, who supported similar views at the League of Nations, Filipescu became the first president of the Romanian Telephone Company (SART), partly privatized in 1929, serving from 1930 until his death. He also presided over the Tobacco Monopoly and a number of other commercial enterprises. His term at SART saw the purchase of controlling interest by ITT Corporation, then the construction of the Bucharest Telephone Palace, completed in 1933, and back then the tallest building in Romania. This assignment became the focus of additional controversy, with critics noting that, although the company was profitable, and the third-largest ITT subsidiary, services had improved only by a slim margin. He was denounced by the PNȚ's Virgil Madgearu, who audited the Company and found that Filipescu took a monthly salary of 100,000 lei, more than three times what a minister made—and, effectively, a lifeline for Epoca. A nationalist deputy, Leon Scridon, also accused Filipescu of running errands for Hungarian and Jewish entrepreneurs, and publicized alleged proof of mismanagement. For his part, Filipescu noted that the Romanian state was habitually cheating on the company's American shareholders, diverting investments and forcing them to accept redundant employees. From his managerial position, Filipescu also obtained intercepts of calls. This allowed him to spy on behalf of Carol, who consequently protected Filipescu against all backlash.
By April 1931, Filipescu and the LVȚ were backing the Maniu government, being opposed to the dissolution of Parliament—as demanded by the other opposition parties. In return, Filipescu asked and obtained for himself the prefecture of Ilfov County. This office was widely seen as beyond his prestige and competence, but he explained that he cold contribute to regional prosperity. Also winning a Senate seat in th
Grigore Filipescu