Defense Minister Radu Miruta has clarified his remarks on whether Nicolae Ceaușescu was a patriot after a controversial interview on Digi24. In a Facebook post he explained that he did not answer the question with a short "no" because he felt it was necessary to provide reasoning. Miruta argues that true patriotism cannot be separated from respect for citizens’ freedom, dignity and well‑being. He said that sacrificing these for a personal power project is never patriotism and that calling Ceaușescu a patriot would require evidence, pointing to the dictator’s suppression of liberty, economic ruin and isolation of Romania. The minister acknowledged the ongoing nostalgia for communism among half of the population and said it is his responsibility to speak openly about such ideas. The clarification came after social media backlash to his earlier interview where he suggested that patriotism should be defined by respect for the people.

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