photo: presidency.ro
He believes the main reason more people are idealizing communism is their deep disappointment with the political class over the past three decades.
“Corruption, lack of transparency, broken promises, and a sense of injustice have weakened people’s trust in the present and the future. When hopes are repeatedly betrayed, nostalgia becomes a natural reaction—even if it’s based on a distorted image of the past. This false image of the communist era is also fueled by disinformation campaigns that seek to undermine democratic values and present a beautified version of the past while hiding the truth about repression, fear, hunger, and the lack of freedom,” the president wrote on Facebook.
The fact that two-thirds of Romanians consider Nicolae Ceaușescu a good leader shows how fragile our collective memory is and how easily perceptions can be manipulated when the state fails to invest in history education, civic education, and honest communication with citizens, he added.
“To keep democracy alive and meaningful, we must firmly combat disinformation, restore public trust through fair policies, and build a society where justice, equity, and real development are felt by all. Romania cannot build a strong future by looking back with illusions. We have a duty to learn from the past, not to revive it,” the president concluded.
About survey
The INSCOP and the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and the Memory of the Romanian Exile (IICCMER) survey (June–July 2025) shows that young people under 30 are increasingly interested in the communist period, though they admit they lack enough information. Their main sources are school, family, books, and documentaries, with social media playing a minor role.
They are the most critical of communism, believing the regime was largely negative, with less freedom, more corruption, and harder access to education and healthcare. They view the communist state as less caring towards its citizens and see Ceaușescu as a bad leader—unlike the majority view.
Overall, 55.8% of Romanians say communism was rather good for Romania, and 48.4% believe life was better before 1989—a nostalgia mostly found among the elderly, less educated, and low-income groups.
Young people believe that production is higher today, moral values are better promoted, and that communist-era media (music, films, shows) was weaker than what exists now. They are also most aware of the abuses of the regime and strongly support better education on communism. They’re also the most likely to say that pro-communist messages exist in today’s political space.