The son of Ion Ratiu, considered a symbol of democracy in Romania and dubbed “the best president Romania never had” has rebuked pro-Russian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu for associating himself with his late father.
In a post on Facebook, Nicolae Ratiu said “nothing could be further from the truth” linking the debonair Mr. Ratiu, who warned about Russian influence in his decades in exile, to Mr. Georgescu who wants Romania to remain ‘neutral’, echoing Russian narratives, despite the fact that it’s a NATO ally.
“Every statement made by Mr. Georgescu is a direct contradiction of the beliefs and principles that Ion Rațiu believed in, ” the Saturday post said,
Mr. Georgescu sent shock waves though the political establishment in the first round of presidential elections on November 24 which he easily won, defeating much better-known politicians.’
Romania’s Constitutional Court has controversially ordered a recount of the votes, the first time this has happened in Romania’s post-communist history.
In a televised appearance this week, Mr.Georgescu, who is looking to expand his voter base said that if he won the runoff, scheduled for December 8″: We will respect the Constitution and democratic rights. As Ion Ratiu said, I will fight until the last drop of blood for you to have the right to an opinion different from mine.”
Mr Ratiu responded angrily. “Călin Georgescu dares to invoke my father Ion Rațiu as a personality who shares the same convictions and thinking as him. Nothing could be further from the truth. In 1950, Ion Ratiu wrote ‘Moscow Challenges the World’ which has been recently republished. It describes precisely the dangerous threat that Russia poses to the whole world, not just to Europe.”
“Basically, every statement made by Mr. Georgescu is a direct contradiction of the beliefs and principles that Ion Rațiu believed in. ”
Mr. Ratiu returned to Romania after communism collapsed in 1989 and ran for president. He was defeated by former communist Ion Iliescu, who appeared as an interim leader during the uprising.He died in 2000 and is one of Romania’s most widely respected figures.
His vision continues at the Ratiu Foundation based in his home town of Turda, which promotes democracy, a free press, civic activism and a global vision of the world in which Romania plays a part.
The foundation is run by Nicolae Ratiu and Pamela Roussos-Ratiu and has a partnership with the London School of Economics.
Romania marks 20 years since the death of Ion Ratiu ‘the best president Romania never had’
