Disputes emerge among members of Romania's ruling alliance during state funeral ceremonies for ex-president Ion Iliescu.
In the heart of Romania, a political storm is brewing as the Save Romania Union (USR) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD) find themselves at odds over the state funerals for former president Ion Iliescu.
The dispute arose after USR leader Dominic Fritz criticized Iliescu for overseeing a post-communist system that he argued continues to hinder Romania's progress. Fritz emphasized that many victims of past abuses still await justice, particularly in relation to the June 1990 Mineriad.
USR representatives argue for their decision "out of respect for the victims of the 1989 Revolution and the 1990 Mineriads," referring to the violent crackdowns that took place under Iliescu's leadership. In response, the PSD has suspended participation in coalition meetings, citing what it describes as "public incitement to hatred" from the USR.
The PSD has declared it will boycott all coalition meetings "until USR demonstrates political maturity and reconsiders its attitude." In contrast, USR has stated it would not attend the official funeral ceremonies for Ion Iliescu.
Ion Iliescu, Romania's first president after the fall of communism in December 1989, died on August 5 at the age of 95. His political career, however, has been marred by allegations of human rights violations, particularly during the June 1990 Mineriad.
Iliescu was formally indicted for crimes against humanity linked to the June 1990 Mineriad. The indictment accused him of coordinating a general and systematic attack against civilian populations during the Mineriad protests, involving government forces and miners against peaceful protesters.
However, the case was ultimately dismissed in 2020, with the indictment declared void. Separate charges and trials related to his role in the 1989 revolution and other Mineriads also faced suspensions or dismissal.
Interim PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu added that "all political figures should show respect and decency toward the first president of democratic Romania, who led the country on its path to European and Euro-Atlantic integration."
The national day of mourning for Ion Iliescu has been declared on August 7. The Save Romania Union (USR)'s proposal to refrain from declaring a national day of mourning has sparked a heated debate, with both parties expressing their views passionately.
[1] "Ion Iliescu: Romania's Former President Faces Crimes Against Humanity Trial Over Mineriad Protests," Deutsche Welle, 13 September 2017, https://www.dw.com/en/ion-iliescu-romanias-former-president-faces-crimes-against-humanity-trial-over-mineriad-protests/a-40469225 [2] "Ion Iliescu: Romania's Former President Dismissed from Crimes Against Humanity Trial," Deutsche Welle, 30 December 2020, https://www.dw.com/en/ion-iliescu-romanias-former-president-dismissed-from-crimes-against-humanity-trial/a-56151333 [3] "Romania: Ion Iliescu's Mineriad Case Sent Back to Military Prosecutors," Balkan Insight, 27 March 2019, https://balkaninsight.com/2019/03/27/romania-ion-iliescus-mineriad-case-sent-back-to-military-prosecutors/ [4] "Romania's Former President Ion Iliescu, Accused of Crimes Against Humanity, Dies at 95," The New York Times, 6 August 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/06/world/europe/ion-iliescu-romania-president-dead.html [5] "European Court of Human Rights Finds Romania Failed to Investigate Mineriad Abuses," Balkan Insight, 13 December 2016, https://balkaninsight.com/2016/12/13/european-court-of-human-rights-finds-romania-failed-to-investigate-mineriad-abuses/
- The on-going dispute between the Save Romania Union (USR) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD) over the state funerals for former president Ion Iliescu is not just a matter of politics, but also a question of policy-and-legislation, war-and-conflicts, and general-news, as it revolves around allegations of human rights violations and crimes against humanity during Iliescu's leadership, particularly during the June 1990 Mineriad.
- The feud between the USR and PSD, sparked by the USR's criticism of Ion Iliescu's handling of past conflicts and their decision to refrain from declaring a national day of mourning, has escalated into a heated debate, shedding light on the complexities of policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news in Romania, while also highlighting the ongoing significance of war-and-conflicts, such as the Mineriad, in shaping the nation's political landscape.
