The son of Ion Rațiu says that “the Russians will not give up and will not disappear” / urges the Romanians to get involved in the defense of democracy

Nicolae Rațiu, the son of Ion Rațiu, says, in a video message, that “Nicușor Dan is a worthy president”, who supports values ​​similar to those of his father.

The son of Ion Rațiu warns, in his message, that George Simion is still a danger, “which will relentlessly fulfill Putin's will to destabilize Romania.” He says he feels that these results are “in memory of his father.”

“This morning I visited my father's grave, Ion Rațiu, in the cemetery of our family in Turda, to thank you in your name, of all, that you were with us when I needed him in elections. Nicușor Dan is a worthy president, who supports those of Ion Rațiu. Simion have a champion that will relentlessly fulfill Putin's will to destabilize Romania, as long as he can and allow it.

Prior to the presidential elections, in an interview with Hotnews, Nicolae Rațiu said that he trusts Nicușor Dan because he has “a very clear vision for investments in key fields, where it is needed, to take the country before, working with our allies in Europe. It is a completely different image of the future.” The full interview can be read here.

“Mr. with a butterfly”

In the transition made by post-communist Romania to democracy, on May 20, 1990, the Romanians had a choice between the candidates Radu Câmpeanu, Ion Iliescu and Ion Rațiu. They were the first free choices after 45 years of communism.

They then chose Ion Iliescu with 85.07%, in what remained in history “Sunday of the blind”. Iliescu was seen as the one who would bring a balanced transition to democracy, even if he was a heir to the communists. He controlled the press, and the press gave limited access to the other candidates. The time when Romania was more rural than urban.

Radu Câmpeanu came to the second place, with 10.64%. He was a classic liberal who was closed for anti -communist political activity, and when he escaped from prison he fled to France, where he lived over 30 years. He had a liberal speech, but Iliescu seemed more familiar to the Romanians then.

Ion Rațiu was the “Mr. with a butterfly” that many did not understand. It has become a symbol of democracy through the center of Turda and through the quotes left behind, in his fight against the system. The phrase “I will fight until the last drop of blood for your right not to agree with me” has remained in recent history as a call to communities to defend their rights.

He studied law in Cluj, was in exile in the UK, where he followed political science and economics in Cambridge.

After 40 years in exile in the United Kingdom, Ion Rațiu returns and candidates. People were calling him “Lord with a butterfly” and he was perceived too western and sophisticated for a hungry, fed and isolated people.

The 1990 elections have been a mirror of the Romanian society since then: debated, fearful, but with the hope that, maybe, finally, things will work better. It was the beginning of a fragile democracy, with small steps and many hesitations.