Season's Greetings From Sleeping Romania
I meant to write you sooner, but I just couldn't get out of bed.
I meant to write you sooner, but I just couldn't get out of bed.
I’m exaggerating, though not as much as you might think.
Let me backtrack a little, so you understand.
A little over two weeks ago, the Romanian Constitutional Court decided to annul the entirety of our then-ongoing presidential election, the second round of which was due to take place on December 8.
This came as the culmination of an election season marked by the usual mix of anger, confusion, hope, and despondency, and also after a surprising first round win by a candidate many hadn’t even heard about, a former member of a far-right party which gained prominence during the pandemic for their vehement anti-Covid stance.
There’d be lots to say about this result, but my profession and my conscience prohibit me from doing so. That, and it’ll upset me too much to go over the whole thing again.
Suffice it to say that right now, democracy feels brittle here, like a piece of toilet paper left to dry in the sun. We are going to have to redo the whole election from scratch, and we are to be called to vote again sometime next spring. Until then, we wait.
What have these few weeks been like for me, as I was surprised, shocked, gratuitously and repeatedly shaken awake like the populace of a city encased in a snowglobe, and ultimately clobbered over the head by the annulment decision?
It’s been like someone had set a fire inside my belly, and kept stoking it and feeding it oxygen whenever they felt it die down. I’ve had trouble sleeping, eating, writing, and even, some mornings, opening my eyes at all.
Waiting sucks, I can tell you that, especially when the result is so goddamned hard to predict. These days, writing my little novella about an old man and a cat has felt less than unimportant, a luxury. But thanks to support from family and friends (online ones included, thanks a lot
), the book is chugging along on schedule. I am 20-ish pages away from finishing the second draft, upon which I will finally allow a few cherished people to see it.This will probably be my last post of the year. I hope to return in 2025 with a bit more hopeful news.
Until then, stay safe and candid. Happy holidays!
Yours merrily (or trying to, at least),
Andrei
P.S. Linked below are a few English-language articles that go into further detail on the story, to peruse at your leisure.
https://theconversation.com/why-romanias-election-was-annulled-and-what-happens-next-245779
I so get this, here in the US -- also having trouble getting out of bed ... sort of ...
Andrei, I feel your pain. From the ongoing hellish circus in the U.S., I watch the nonstop travesty of trials and sentencing of democracy advocates, journalists and finger legislators in my birthplace😩
At times like this, writing is not a luxury, but a survival necessity, but first take care of yourself, put on the oxygen mask so then you do what needs to be done! Sending you and your family warmest wishes for a healthy and peaceful holiday! See you in 2025♥️