Adrian Păunescu

Romanian poet and politician

Adrian Paunescu (Romanian pronunciation: [adri'an p?.u'nesku]; 20 July 1943 – 5 November 2010) was a Romanian writer, publisher, cultural promoter, translator, and politician. A profoundly charismatic personality, a controversial and complex figure, the artist and the man are almost impossible to separate.

On the one hand he stands accused of collaboration with the Communist regime, but on the other hand he was persecuted and ostracised by the regime when he started to confront its failures, and when his influence stated to be considered dangerous.

Though criticised for praising former Communist leader Nicolae Ceau?escu, Paunescu was called "Romania's most famous poet" in an Associated Press story, quoted by The New York Times.