Symbols are not neutral: Why Adrian Păunescu's bust can be legally removed

The Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and the Romanian Exile (IICCMER) has formally requested the removal of a public monument dedicated to the controversial poet Adrian Păunescu from Bucharest's Grădina Icoanei park. This initiative is presented as a necessary defense of democratic values against extremist ideologies.

Despite Romania currently lacking specific legislation explicitly banning communist symbols, the article asserts that solid legal grounds exist for the bust's removal. These grounds are rooted in the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), national legislation, and European Union law. The authors acknowledge that such a move might provoke negative reactions but argue that democratic authorities must act decisively, rather than with excessive caution, to protect the state of law.

The piece strongly condemns both far-right (fascism) and far-left (communism) extremism, labeling both as equally repugnant and inherently genocidal. It posits that both ideologies inevitably lead to destruction, death, and the annihilation of human dignity. The article dismisses the notion that opposition to communism, such as that historically shown by the Iron Guard, holds any positive value if it is not based on democratic principles but rather on imposing another form of extremism.

This legal and ideological argument aims to provide a framework for removing symbols associated with figures deemed detrimental to democratic society. The call for action against the Păunescu bust is framed as a crucial step in safeguarding democracy, which the authors emphasize is not a given but requires constant vigilance and firm defense against persistent threats.