Romanian gov’t institute criticizes revival of Ceausescu court poet

Romania’s  anti-communist institute  has criticized an attempt to revive the memory of a poet who praised late Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

Poet

Adrian Paunescu, was a well-known contemporary poet who praised the Communist leader, yet remained popular among Romanians with his sentimental verse.

His son Andrei Paunescu announced Monday that he is hosting an artistic event on July 23  in honor of his late father who died in 2010.

The communists permitted the popular poet to stage a folk festival called the  “Flame Cenacle” featuring song, poetry and dialogue which in turn they used to promote communism in a relaxed atmosphere.

But the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes on Monday called for the event to be canceled.

Communist regime

In the spirit of truth and on the basis of respect for the victims of the communist regime, IICCMER calls for …this Ceausescu-type propaganda” not to be staged because it ignores “the devastating effects it has on the lives of the millions of Romanian citizens.”

Andrei Păunescu said the event which will honor his father will be held at Corbu, a beach on the Black Sea.

“Music, poetry and dialogue come together to form unforgettable moments and…recall the past,” organizers said.

Struggle

The institute however said that communists deliberately perverted “authentic cultural and artistic values to give credibility to …. nationalist-communist propaganda,” consciously supported by “some people of culture .. engaged in a tireless struggle for the favors and attention of” the communist regime, the press release said.

During the anti-communist uprising in 1989, in which more than 1,000 people were killed, it was reported that Paunescu tried to seek refuge at the U.S. Embassy to escape angry protesters. It was not clear whether he was unable to get in or decided to abandon his efforts.

Football

He was best known for his poetry about love and death — and even football. His verse could be at time mawkish and melancholy which suited the Romanian psyche.

Paunescu was born in 1943 in the Soviet Union, in what is now Moldova, and moved to Romania as a child. His father was a political prisoner under communism in Romania , which initially led to Paunescu having problems getting into university.

 

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