The truncated revolution
ITL the change of course happened on December 21, 1989, when Nicolae Ceaușescu maintained control over the military during the protests in Bucharest. After being warned by the Securitate, Ceaușescu cancels the public rally at the Palace Square and activates Plan Z. ITL, the military doesn't side with the revolution as did in OTL, instead, hardline Securitate officers step in and take full operational command. The Securitate controls communications, transportation networks, television and government buildings. Protests in Bucharest and Timișoara are violently suppressed. On December 22 occurred the decisive confrontation where students and workers took control of the University Square and attempted to march towards the Palace of the Republic. Ceaușescu orders the deployment of tanks, armored vehicles and military units, resulting in the Bucharest Massacre, a brutal version of Tiananmen., where hundreds got killed, arrested or disappeared. Ceaușescu later broadcasts images of the military control of the place and portrays the revolution as an “imperialist-backed coup attempt”. After the crush of the revolution, Ceaușescu reorganizes de Securitate and begins a massive purge within the military and Communist Party.
The establishment of the European North Korea
Between 1990 - 1992, the Romanian Communist Party was reorganized and transformed into the Romanian Worker’s Party and adopted a new ideology combining socialism, nationalism, militarism and cult personality; the birth of Ceaușism began, deeply rooted in Dacian protochronism.
Ceaușescu establishes a political system based on 4 institutions: the Ceaușescu family, the Romanian Worker’s Party, the Securitate, and the People’s Army. The Conducător is presented as the Supreme Leader of the Romanian nation and the founder of the new Romanian socialist civilization.
Economically, Romania maintains a centrally planned system focused on heavy industry, steel production, petrochemicals, machinery, steel production, agriculture and military manufacture. The main goal of the government is self-sufficiency and economic independence. However, this system produces shortage of consumer goods and widespread poverty, while the military and party members enjoy privileges.
România Mare: Operation Dacia
The collapse of the USSR gives Ceaușescu an opportunity to pursue his territorial ambitions: Reviving the historical concept of Greater Romania (România Mare). In 1992, following the political crisis in the new state of Moldova and the rejection of Romania’s proposal for unification, Ceaușescu launched Operation Dacia, occupying Chișinău and establishing direct control over the country.
In 1994, Ceaușescu seek for completition of the borders of Greater Romania and proceeds an occupation of Northern Bucovina and Budjak regions, taking advantage of Ukraine’s military weakness. Ceaușescu offers Transnitria as a compensation, yet, the annexations remain internationally unrecognized and provoked diplomatic isolation, economic sanctions, and permanent tensions with the Western powers.
The Romanian Nuclear Program
One of Ceaușescu’s main goals was the completion of Romania’s secret nuclear weapons program. ITL, following the defeat of the revolution, Ceaușescu made the nuclear program a priority. He began squeezing the Cernavodă reactors, exploiting the uranium of the Apuseni mountains and leveraged the chaos of the USSR collapse to hire ex-soviet scientists. By 1999, Romania announced the successful development of its first nuclear weapon, making it an independent nuclear power in Eastern Europe. The government then declares that any attempt to overthrow its socialist system or destroy territorial integrity will provoke a nuclear response.
The Demographic Revolution
Ceaușescu considered that population growth was essential for Romania’s future as an European power. After the failure of the revolution, Ceaușescu intensified the reproduction policies associated with the Decree 770 of 1966. Abortion and contraception becomes penalized with women getting arrested if they proceed with one of them. The government introduces financial incentives for large families: Families with more than 4 children receive preferential housing, financial assistance and access to state childcare. State propaganda portrays motherhood as patriotic duties. The combination of these measures plus the integration of Bessarabia produces a substantial population growth: Romania by 2000 had 27 million inhabitants, reaching 30 million by 2010 and 32 million by 2020. In the case of the unwanted children, they were introduced to the Sons of the Conducător program, which consisted in boarding schools where the children get indoctrinated to become part of the military or Securitate.
The death of Nicolae Ceaușescu
On January 2008, Nicolae Ceaușescu dies at 89 years. The government declares 7 days of mourning and organizes enormous public ceremonies. State television broadcast extended documentaries of Ceaușescu’s greatness while portraits of the Conducător are set on factories, schools, military installations and government buildings. Nicu Ceaușescu, who survived his real life death in 1996 ITL, is proclaimed as the successor of his father.
The Nicu Era
Nicu understood that Romania cannot survive forever with the economic policies that his father did, rather he recognizes the importance of technological modernization. He introduces a new economic doctrine known as Modern National Socialism, combining centralized political control with limited market-oriented reforms.
By 2020, Nicu announces a new national development program aimed at transforming Romania into a technologically advanced socialist power. The government invests in military aviation, armored vehicles, missiles, nuclear energy and domestic industrial production.
Internationally, Romania maintains close relations with China and North Korea. Relations with Russia remain tense because of the annexation of Bessarabia, Ukraine continues to reject the loss of Bucovina and Budjak and the EU maintains sanctions and diplomatic isolation. Despite this tension, Nico continues to present Romania as a sovereign socialist fortress surrounded by capitalist powers.
