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Romania Cult of Personality
The distinctive feature of Romania's political power
structure
in the 1980s was the cult of personality surrounding
Nicolae and
Elena Ceausescu. Some observers argued that the phenomenon
was the
continuation of Romania's historical legacy. Others held
that it
was Ceausescu's unique political creation.
Following Ceausescu's rise to power in 1965, Romanians
had
enjoyed a short-lived liberalization, as the new leader
sought to
achieve genuine popularity. By 1971, however, the regime
had
reasserted its Stalinist legacy in socioeconomic and
cultural
matters. Thereafter ideological orthodoxy retained a tight
hold on
all intellectual life, and meaningful reforms failed to
materialize. After assuming the newly established position
of
president of the republic, Ceausescu was increasingly
portrayed by
the Romanian media as a creative communist theoretician
and
political leader whose "thought" was the source of all
national
accomplishments. His tenure as president was known as the
"golden
era of Ceausescu." The media embellished all references to
him
with such fomulaic appellations as "guarantor of the
nation's
progress and independence" and "visionary architect of the
nation's
future." In 1989, Ceausescu functioned as the head of
state, the
PCR, and the armed forces; chairman of the Supreme Council
for
Economic and Social Development, president of the National
Council
of Working People, and chairman of the Socialist Democracy
and
Unity Front.
In the 1980s, the personality cult was extended to
other
members of the Ceausescu family. Ceausescu's wife, Elena,
held a
position of prominence in political life far exceeding
protocol
requirements. As first deputy prime minister, she took
part in
official negotiations with foreign governments and
communist
parties. She chaired both the National Council on Science
and
Technology and the National Council for Science and
Education. Her
most influential position, however, was that of chief of
the Party
and State Cadres Commission, which enabled her to effect
organizational and personnel changes in the party
apparatus and the
government. By the mid-1980s, Elena Ceausescu's national
prominence had grown to the point that her birthday was
celebrated
as a national holiday, as was her husband's. With allies
throughout
the Central Committee and the powerful secret police,
Elena
Ceausescu had emerged as one of the foremost contenders to
succeed
her husband, who in 1989 was reported to be in failing
health.
Their son, Nicu, was a candidate member of the Polexco,
and two of
Ceausescu's brothers held key positions in the army and
the secret
police. In 1989, some twenty-seven of Ceausescu's close
relatives
held top party and state positions.
Data as of July 1989
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