Image Source: ARCEN Association, facebook.com/AsociatiaARCEN/
With the death of Gheorghiu-Dej, Nicolae Ceausecu assumed leadership. He sought to continue the authoritarian rule of Romania and also “demanded that Marxist-Leninist ideology be the guiding force throughout society: in the party at every level, in education, in youth and women’s organizations, publishing, the media, and literature and history and creative endeavors of all kinds”. He insisted upon his party’s complete and unequivocal control over the nation. Corruption became more prevalent as the years went on and the party’s power slowly shifted to Ceausescu, essentially forming a dictatorship. Much of his newfound power was relegated to his family members, such as his wife, who he gave the second most powerful position in the government. This type of leadership led Ceaceuscu, and the close-knit group that surrounded him, to holding all of the governmental power in Romania, while slowly and steadily stripping power from the Communist party. Not only that, but those surrounding the dictator would typically only “give Ceausescu the advice he wanted to hear”. Some would describe this regime as “socialism in one family,” which contrasts with the Stalinist version “socialism in one country”.
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