66% of Romanians Believe Ceaușescu Was a Good Leader – New Poll Reveals

A striking new poll reveals that two-thirds of Romanians view Nicolae Ceaușescu, the country’s former communist dictator, as a good leader for Romania, 35 years after the regime’s collapse. Conducted nationwide, the study highlights an intensifying nostalgia for the communist era at a time of significant political and social discontent.

Key Findings from the Survey

• 66% of respondents said Ceaușescu was a good leader for Romania.
• About a quarter considered him a bad leader.
• The rest were undecided or did not answer.

This high level of nostalgia is attributed partly to current economic and social challenges, as well as the growing influence of social media, where positive portrayals of Ceaușescu have proliferated in recent years. There are growing concerns about the effects of misinformation and a lack of historical education on shaping public memory.

Experts’ Perspective

The idealisation of the communist era and Ceaușescu himself is viewed by sociologists as a potentially concerning trend for Romanian democracy. Many still refer to that period as “the golden age,” despite documented oppression, lack of freedoms, and growing poverty at the end of his rule. These findings underscore the need for improved historical and civic education, as well as a stronger resistance to coordinated disinformation campaigns.

To put these results into context, recent studies have also measured the trust Romanians place in their current leaders, and especially in President Nicușor Dan.

Trust in President Nicușor Dan

• 47% of Romanians declare high or very high trust in Nicușor Dan.
• His level of public recognition is nearly universal.
• Dan’s trust ratings are the highest among today’s politicians.
• Among various political supporters, Dan’s trust levels stand out, showing firm support among centrists and reform-oriented voters.
• He recently won the presidency with approximately 54% of the vote against a far-right competitor, in one of the most well-attended elections of the past quarter-century.

Ceaușescu Nostalgia vs. Confidence in Dan

Metric	Nicolae Ceaușescu (2025 Perception)	President Nicușor Dan (Current)
Positive leadership perception	66%	47% trust
Election support	n/a	54% in 2025 runoff
Awareness	Widespread, historic figure	Nearly universal

There is a striking contrast between nostalgia for Ceaușescu’s regime and current trust in Romanian presidents. Ceaușescu’s image, reshaped by years of social difficulties and online mythmaking, is often seen as representing stability, in contrast to today’s complex and sometimes chaotic political landscape. While current leaders like Nicușor Dan enjoy relatively strong public trust, particularly compared to other politicians, their levels remain below the positive perception attached to this controversial figure of the past.

This tension reflects the broader challenges facing Romania: bridging social divides, strengthening institutions, and building lasting public trust in a democratic system. It also highlights how selective memory and misinformation can influence perceptions, especially during uncertain times.

The new public opinion data serves as a reminder of how historical memory and present-day dissatisfaction combine to shape Romanian attitudes. The main takeaway is that there is an urgent need for robust historical education and stronger civic engagement to help reinforce the foundations of Romania’s democracy for future generations.