Romania Front Appoints New Government

Romania’s National Salvation Front today named a new government headed by President Ion Iliescu, a day after announcing the execution of deposed dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

Soon after the government was announced, angry crowds poured into Bucharest’s central square. “No more Communists!” they shouted, raising clenched fists and waving national flags. “No more Ceausescus!”

The Front said other members of the government are Vice President Dumitru Mazilu, Prime Minister Petre Roman and Minister of Defense Gen. Colonel Nicolae Militaru.

Iliescu is a former Communist Party Central Committee secretary who had been demoted to vice director of the state technical publishing house after criticizing the Ceausescu regime. He was previously under police surveillance.

The Front, which has pledged free elections by April, said Roman will serve as premier until the vote.

A member of the People’s Militia, an automatic rifle slung over his back, said the new government will not last long.

“We have no leaders. We have the people. The people are our leaders,” he said gesturing to the swelling throng.

Ceausescu, who ruled Romania as Communist Party chief from 1965, took over as president 10 years later.

Iliescu, 56, has been spokesman of the Front, which has acted as an interim government since the collapse of Ceausescu’s rule Friday in a popular revolt.

Mazilu is a legal expert who had been under house arrest for criticizing Ceausescu in human rights reports to the United Nations.