• Home /
• Statewatch Database /
• Romania: Racism and fascism

Romania: Racism and fascism

01 January 1991

Romania: Racism and fascism
artdoc April=1995

Nationalists gain cabinet posts

For the first time, the Romanian National Unity Party have been
given cabinet posts in the government, prompting fears that
Romania's government is increasingly becoming dependent on
nationalist parties. Adrian Turicu now heads communications,
while Valeriu Tabara has been appointed minister of agriculture
(Independent 19.8.94).

Romania relives nationalist past

The refusal to allow the 72-year-old exiled former King of
Romania to return to the country has become the latest event in
the battle to come to terms with Romania's pro-nazi past.
August 23 was the 50th anniversary of the day when King
Michael ordered the arrest of the neo-nazi war-time dictator
Marshal Ion Antonescu and withdrew Romania from its alliance with
Hitler. But almost 200,000 people have signed a petition calling
for the rehabilitation of Antonescu so that he can be
posthumously acquitted of war-crimes. In 1993, a bust of the
former dictator was erected in the southern town of Slobozia and
at least eight other towns have named streets after him. One such
town, Botosani, had a large pre-war Jewish population, all of
whom were deported and murdered. On New Year's Eve, Romanian
television broadcast a programme, sponsored by the ultra-
nationalist Greater Romania Party, that mixed pictures of
Antonescu's execution with pictures of King Michael receiving a
Soviet award for his role in overthrowing the dictator
(Independent 23.8.94).

Immigration and Foreigners law

New Foreigners Status Bill

The Foreigners' Status Bill, will be discussed in the Senate by
the end of the year. The Ministry of the Interior would also be
empowered to limit foreigners movements `for reasons linked to
national security, public order, public health or public morale'
(Balkan News 13.11.94).

IRR European Race Audit, Bulletin no 11, December 1994. Contact:
Liz Fekete, Institute of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke Street, London
WC1X 9HS. Tel: 0171 837 0041