The Writers' Union of Romania (), founded in March 1949, is a professional association of writers in

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Moldova to the east, and ...

. It also has a subsidiary in Chișinău,

Republic of Moldova A republic () is a " state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th ...

. The Writers' Union of Romania was created by the

communist regime A communist state, also known as a Marxist–Leninist state, is a one-party state that is administered and governed by a communist party guided by Marxism–Leninism. Marxism–Leninism was the state ideology of the Soviet Union, the Cominte ...

by taking over the former

Romanian Writers' Society The Romanian Writers' Society ( ro, Societatea Scriitorilor Români) was a professional association based in Bucharest, Romania, that aided the country's writers and promoted their interests. Founded in 1909, it operated for forty years before the e ...

(''Societatea Scriitorilor Români''), which had been established in 1908. The Union organizes the annual Days and Nights of Literature Festival, and the awarding of the prestigious

Ovid Prize The Ovid Prize, established in 2002, is a literary prize awarded annually to an author from any country, in recognition of a body of work. It is named in honour of the Roman poet Ovid, who died in exile in Tomis (contemporary Constanța), on the ...

for Literature.

Presidents

Zaharia Stancu Zaharia Stancu (; October 7, 1902 – December 5, 1974) was a Romanian prose writer, novelist, poet, and philosopher. He was also the director of the National Theatre Bucharest, the President of the Writers' Union of Romania, and a titular memb ...

(active, 1949–1956) *

Mihail Sadoveanu Mihail Sadoveanu (; occasionally referred to as Mihai Sadoveanu; November 5, 1880 – October 19, 1961) was a Romanian novelist, short story writer, journalist and political figure, who twice served as acting head of state for the communis ...

(honorary, 1949–1956; active, 1956–1961) * Mihai Beniuc (1962–1964) * Demostene Botez (1964–1966) *

(1966–1974) * (1974–1978) * George Macovescu (1978–1982) * Dumitru Radu Popescu (1982–1990) *

Mircea Dinescu Mircea Dinescu (; born November 11, 1950) is a Romanian poet, journalist, and editor. Biography Early life and poetry He was born in Slobozia, the son of Ştefan Dinescu, a metalworker, and Aurelia (born Badea). Dinescu studied at the Faculty ...

(1990–1996) * (1996–2000) * (2000–2005) *

Nicolae Manolescu Nicolae Manolescu (; b. 27 November 1939, Râmnicu Vâlcea) is a Romanian literary critic. As an editor of '' România Literară'' literary magazine, he has reached a record in reviewing books for almost 30 years. Elected a corresponding member ...

(2005–)

Tudor Arghezi Tudor Arghezi (; 21 May 1880 – 14 July 1967) was a Romanian writer, best known for his unique contribution to poetry and children's literature. Born Ion N. Theodorescu in Bucharest, he explained that his pen name was related to ''Argesis'', th ...

was honorary president from 1962 to 1967, as was Victor Eftimiu in 1972; Ștefan Augustin Doinaș was chosen for this function in 1990 as well.

Notable members

* Paul Cernat, essayist * Ioana Crăciunescu, poet and actress *

Vasile Dîncu Vasile Sebastian Dîncu (; born 25 November 1961) is a Romanian politician, sociologist, professor and writer who served as Deputy Prime Minister in the Cioloș Cabinet and was Minister of National Defence in the Ciucă Cabinet. Biography Vasi ...

, Minister of National Defence * Eugenia Mihalea, poet * Aurel Pantea, poet * Nicolae Pogonaru, novelist * Sorin Lavric, writer (until 2020)

References

1949 establishments in Romania

Organizations established in 1949 {{Romania-stub