In the last summer of the Ceausescu couple, the holiday meant only the continuation of the party life: the move to Neptune or Snagov brought meetings, official visits and bureaucratic routine. Under the appearance of leave, Ceausesmen have always remained on duty, without true relaxation.
Ceausescu couple, on vacation, on the Danube. Photo: The online phototeca of Romanian communism
In the summer of 1989, Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu respected their tiring pattern of holidays that were, in fact, an extension of party life. In mid -July until September, the official residence was moved from Bucharest to the Villas from Neptune, but the bureaucratic and political routine was not interrupted. “Settlement was, in fact, a classic element in the lifestyle of communist dignitaries“, Writes the historian Lavinia Betea, in the book”Last year of Elena Ceausescu’s life“.
Even at sea, the comrade was committed daily to revise the correspondence, in meetings and in frequent summons of the collaborators. “At 18 o’clock they summoned the others and burned a meeting. Formal or informal“. The residences of Neptun and Snagov were arranged so that nothing is missing”from those needed and work. Had offices, reception rooms and sessions“.
Holidays on paper, work visits in practice
On paper, July 15-28 was intended for relaxation. In fact, the program was crowded with working visits, meetings and official appearances. In this interval, the 24th anniversary of the 9th Congress of the PCR, an opportunity transformed into propagandistic ritual, was marked. “The country is homage to the great hero!“, The newspapers of the time were titled. Ceauseștii were attending dinners, visits in counties, meetings with local frames and festivities in Neptune. Elena Ceausescu chaired meetings on July 21 and 26, treating topics as”Modernization of production processes“And”Plan tasks on August“.
On the first Sunday spent in Neptune, an appearance was organized in the militia, and between July 19 and 25, there were work visits to Constanța and Călărași, in Constanța and to industrial units such as August 23. The official atmosphere was maintained including through public receptions and assemblies. “The assembly opened Manea Mănescu“, And Elena Ceausescu”convened Curticeanu, Nicoliciu and Burciu“.
Ceausescu couple, on vacation in Neptune, in 1979. Photo: The online phototeca of Romanian communism
From the end of July to the first days of September, Ceausești moved to Snagov. “With puppy and piglet, as they say“There were no official activities there.”Comrade convened Curticeanu, Bobu and Constantin Radu“. In August, sessions took place on the days of 6, 12 and 17, and on August 21-23, the program became exhausting.” Work “with breaks of breathing from Ceausescu’s speech“, In”festive assemblies held in all companies and institutions in rural and urban“.
For some rest, for others work
The last summer days were as full: meetings with various themes, from agriculture and food industry to metallurgy or the organization of the congress. In parallel, the teleconferences and views for the new civic center continued. Until August 30, Ceauseștii had not stopped for a day. “They were old, they were no longer matched the coast“Although the summer was traditionally associated with the holiday, in their case,”LEAVE“It was just an appearance.”In youth, in the time of Dej, the one known in spring only as Lenuța Ceausescu was traveling for pleasure, with Dana, Corneliu Mănescu’s wife, and with her good friend, Martha Drăghici, Vienna and Karlovy Vary“
