The Romanian Revolution, 25 Years After
On December 17, twenty-five years ago, people in Timisoara took to the streets in protest at the eviction of the Hungarian reformed priest, Laszlo Tokes. Soon, their protest would become an anti-communist one.
Valentin Țigău, 18.12.2014, 14:12
On December 17, 1989, the Opera Square in the city of Timisoara was packed with protesters, and voices calling for action against communist dictatorship could be heard from the balconies. Timisoara is the city where the 1989 Romanian Revolution started. In a desperate attempt to hold things under control, Ceausescu declared a state of necessity and ordered the army to open fire against protesters. Over 100 people died in Timisoara, but history proved that December 17 was the beginning of the end for the communist dictatorship in Romania.
“Today in Timisoara, tomorrow all over the country” became an anti-communist slogan. What is now the national anthem, “Awaken thee, Romanians!” was the score of the entire revolutionary movement which culminated, on December 20, with Timisoara being declared as the first Romanian city free of communism. This year as well, the people of Timisoara have been commemorating their heroes, starting December 15, evoking the tragic events of 1989. Attending ceremonies in Timisoara, Romania’s president-elect Klaus Iohannis has said that Romania needs a new national project:
Klaus Iohannis: “Reconstruction starts with admitting to faults and taking responsibility for the past. I think this December we should close this historic chapter and start a new national program together.”
On Wednesday in Timisoara flags were flown at half-must, religious services were held, and wreaths were laid in the heroes’ memory. The events in Timisoara were also evoked in the capital city Bucharest, in a special session of Parliament. On this occasion, the Speaker of the Senate, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, said in a speech that Romania’s change from dictatorship to a free and democratic society, market economy and the rule of law proved to be much more difficult than Romanians had anticipated 25 years ago.
Tariceanu also mentioned some of Romania’s accomplishments all these years, such as NATO and EU integration. In his turn, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputy Valeriu Zgonea, talked about the importance of keeping alive the memory of those who died in 1989:
Valeriu Zgonea: “As our predecessors used to say, there is no greater duty to on earth than the love for your country and kin, and the respect for its past. He who has no respect the past is unworthy of this nation’s present and future.”
The events devoted to the celebration of the 1989 Romanian Revolution will continue throughout the country until December 25, the day when dictator Nicolae Ceusescu and his wife Elena were tried and executed.
