Court in Bucharest nullifies revolutionary credential of ex-president Ion Iliescu (rephrased): Bucharest judicial body revokes revolutionary recognition granted to former president Ion Iliescu.

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The Bucharest Tribunal has given former Romanian president Ion Iliescu a smackdown, deciding to revoke his revolutionary certificate, following a nudge from the State Secretariat for Honoring Fighters Against the Communist Regime. But don't start popping the champagne just yet - this verdict ain't final, and ol' Illy can still appeal within the next 15 days, according to fellow news agency Agerpres.

This decision comes after a deep dive by the government's Secretariat, who deemed the ex-prez's long-time Communist Party association as dirty laundry best tucked away for good. In a shocker of a report, the Secretariat claimed that Iliescu had been right smack in the thick of the Commie fold since 1944, when he joined the Young Communist Union, and once again in 1953, when he officially made the Communist Party his home. Climbing the ranks to major leadership positions like Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth Union and Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Ion Iliescu ain't no stranger to big-time power plays.

The Tribunal specifically revoked Iliescu's certificate due to his role as secretary of the party's Central Committee in 1971, a move barred by Romanian law since it excludes those with high-ranking positions within the Communist regime from sourcing any benefits associated with revolutionary status.

Lose that certificate, lose some of life's luxuries, since ticketholders can pocket benefits like free public transport, tax exemptions, dibs on state-owned housing, and access to free medicine and medical care. Those lucky enough to snag the title post-1990 were uber-committed to overthrowing the Communist regime during the 1989 anti-communist Revolution.

The certificate-revocation process kicks off in 2022, initiated by the December 21 Association, who argued that Iliescu didn't quite measure up to the legal prerequisites for the esteemed title. Skip ahead to present day, and Ion Iliescu is still a divisive figure in Romania's post-Communist historical narrative after his three stints as leader - first as the National Salvation Front's head in 1989, then as a duly elected president from 1992 to 1996 and 2000 to 2004.

Iliescu has been tangled in more than one legal case, including twice being indicted in the "1989 Revolution" case where he's accused of spin-doctoring misinformation to catapult his way to power in the wake of Nicolae Ceaușescu's fall. The courts flat-out dismissed both accusations, giving prosecutors another chance to revisit the case and dive deeper into the troubling waters of the Revolution's aftermath.

In a twist of fate this January, the General Prosecutor's Office has got the ol' legal gears turning again against former prez Ion Iliescu and ex-prime minister Petre Roman in connection to the bloodbath during the protests that went down in Bucharest's University Square on June 13-15, 1990. The duo is facing some hefty charges of crimes against humanity.

Stay tuned for updates on ol' Ion's legal battles - it's sure to be a thrill ride!

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(Photo courtesy of Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea)

The Bucharest Tribunal's decision to revoke Ion Iliescu's revolutionary certificate is based on his long-time affiliation with the Communist Party, which can be traced back to his 1944 membership in the Young Communist Union and his 1953 entry into the Communist Party.
If Ion Iliescu's appeal for his certificate is unsuccessful, he will lose certain benefits associated with his revolutionary status, including free public transport, tax exemptions, priority for state-owned housing, and access to free medicine and medical care.
The decision to revoke Ion Iliescu's certificate was initiated by the December 21 Association in 2022, who argued that he did not meet the legal prerequisites for the title due to his high-ranking position within the Communist regime.
Ion Iliescu, a divisive figure in Romania's post-Communist historical narrative, is currently entangled in multiple legal cases, including charges of crimes against humanity following the bloodbath during the protests in Bucharest's University Square in June 1990.

Court in Bucharest nullifies revolutionary credential of ex-president Ion Iliescu (rephrased): Bucharest judicial body revokes revolutionary recognition granted to former president Ion Iliescu.