In political terms, Corneliu Vadim Tudor’s fate has been on a downward course since the elections in 2000. The best he was able to accomplish was participation in the presidential run-off and winning, almost single-handedly, an outstanding score for the party in the parliamentary elections.
With Eyal Arad, about angels
Corneliu Vadim Tudor has many trades, but one calling: that of manipulating the masses. A poet, historian and journalist, Tudor got in touch with his true self in 1989, when he entered the political arena. One should not be surprised that, over the years, he has more than once changed his conduct. The man who procured under-aged prostitutes to master Eugen Barbu is now working on a paper on the presence of angels in the Old Testament. The “aesthetic” period before the Revolution is a mere time of wandering: Vadim was at the time some sort of Apostle Paul killing Christians. And all that followed should be seen as the path to “finding himself” this year.
Vadim’s spirit
In an interview right after the great withdrawal, Vadim Tudor said: “Let me tell you one thing, and this is the first time I state this publicly: the secret dream behind all political doctrines is to resemble religious doctrines. It is on the basis of the religious doctrines of the main monotheist religions that all these political doctrines took shape, as they related to basically the same human nature, and were intended to be dreamt at night and followed by millions and millions of people.” Although it is for the first time that he makes public this idea, it is obvious that it is the main assumption underlying his entire political career. Vadim has done everything for people to dream his own ideas at night, he wanted to be followed by “millions and millions of people”.
In political terms, Corneliu Vadim Tudor’s fate has been on a downward course since the elections in 2000. The best he was able to accomplish was participation in the presidential run-off and winning, almost single-handedly, an outstanding score for the party in the parliamentary elections. The political pendant of his spiritual position was the rank of President of Romania. After having failed to get it, Vadim suggested his was an even higher position. The “Transfiguration”, crowned by his withdrawal from the party president office, has the significance of Vadim’s assuming a “purely spiritual” dignity. Which explains the lack of interest in the latest presidential elections, his intention to pull out of the race before the first voting round.
In “spiritual” terms however, Vadim is on the rise at the moment. Recommending him for the new role are his personal and political experience, his age and vocation. His increasingly often Biblical references lately did not go unnoticed. Not that he hadn’t done it before as well, but now excerpts are recited with a lot more pathos and “grief.” The research on angels is part of the same strategy. His political doctrine tends to get ever more similar with Christianity itself.
Eyal the theologian
Particularly relevant is that the party’s electoral strategist is a theologian by trade. It has been said, and Vadim confirmed the comment, that Eyal Arad, as a Jew, was called to “clean” the PRM president of his anti-Semitism. The extent to which he managed to do it is irrelevant. After all, Vadim is neither a pro-Semite, nor an anti-Semite, he is a nihilist. Tale-telling in this respect is Eyal’s dual status, that of professional manipulator and of theologian. It is almost sure that the Jewish strategist rescued Vadim from the “spiritual death” which the latter had gone into after the elections in 2000, by redirecting him towards resurrection “in spirit”.
Vadim’s “Christianising” was supposed to benefit the party, and his “missionary” and “religious” spirit had to be rewarded somehow. Which is why, after Vadim withdrew “to the kingdom of angels,” PRM lodged an affiliation application to the European People’s party. It was necessary for such a vigorous spirit as Vadim to be dispossessed of a too serious toy: the party. After all, no extremist is dangerous until they have a chance to bring their ideas to practice. He can be appreciated for his idealism, for his generous beliefs; but under no circumstances should he be allowed to get hold of the machine-gun. It is self-evident that Vadim’s withdrawal benefits the party’s integration in the democratic section of the political arena. As a spiritual leader, the man can no longer be a threat, and the party can leave his presence aside, for political pragmatism reasons.
The angels at Cosmos TV
Just as Eyal Arad is not only a theologian, but also a manipulator by trade, Vadim is not only a good Christian, but also a manipulator by trade. Between two spiritual conversations about Abraham’s descendants, the two would talk about how to fool people more effectively. This is how they reached the conclusion that Vadim being a believer is not enough. The world must be told about the miracle of faith. And since, in our modern world, the easiest way to get ideas across is through the mass-media, then it follows that Vadim, as a spiritual leader, must gain a position in the media. This is why Vadim competes with Dan Diaconescu as a talk-show anchor at Cosmos TV. Bereft of his executive office in the party, Vadim will be given in exchange the freedom of criticising the political system from a Christian standpoint. Whether he gets discredited in the process or not, is up to him. His influence in the party will be assessed against his performance in the media.
Effects in the political arena
No doubt that Vadim’s withdrawal was triggered by internal pressure and that, at some extent, the “Transfiguration” was called for by circumstances. But regardless of these circumstances, one thing we know for sure: an extremist-type leader, Vadim is the first party president to resign on his own free will. This novelty in the Romanian political life was not properly appreciated. As a player in the media, Vadim stands some chance of regaining popularity. Which is why one cannot say he has been taken out for good from the games schemed in the party (which has recently changed its name as well, into Greater Romania People’s Party – PPRM). If affiliation to the European People’s Party is successful, then PPRM will be a member of the same political family with its most hated enemy, the UDMR. In a way, this would make Vadim Tudor and Laszlo Tökes members of the same party structure.
Vadim’s stepping down could occasion changes in the Opposition. At the moment, the direct beneficiary of this political decision is Ion Iliescu. He will try to win over at least a part of Vadim Tudor’s electorate. Iliescu is, at the same time, a good dialogue partner for the new leaders of PPRM, and cooperation between the two parties could be strengthened. And this could lead to a reorientation of ethnical parties (PPRM and UDMR). With PPRM moving closer to PSD, the alternative for UDMR will be the current ruling coalition (PNL and PD).
By Arthur Suciu
