More than 40 per cent of Romanian believe life in Romania is worse now than it was before 1989, when the regime of Nicolae Ceaucscu was toppled in a street revolt. Only 33 per cent of respondents say it is better today, a survey by INSCOP pollster shows.

For disappointed people, a higher standard of living and greater job security are the main arguments for feeling a tinge of nostalgia for the old Communist order.

Romanians are more optimistic about the distant future, however. Over half of those polled in the survey said life would be better 25 years from now, while only 12 per cent believe it will be worse.

Analysts say people are not exactly nostalgic for the Communist regime, but more disappointed by their current situation.

“People are not attached to the ideology or values of Communism, but are disappointed by the hardships they face in their daily life and by corruption and political infighting. They regret the safety and predictability of life as it was before 1990,” political analyst Darie Crastea observed.

The revolution in 1989 started on December 16 in the western city of Timisoara, where a priest, Laszlo Tokes, was about to be moved to another parish by the authorities.

The move triggered opposition from members of his parish who were soon joined by hundreds other people, the protest turning into a demonstration.

Ceausescu ordered that the demonstration be suppressed at any cost and the army opened fire on the marchers.

In the following days, protests spread to other cities across Romania. Seeing the writing on the wall, Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, fled from Bucharest in a helicopter on December 22, 1989, under pressure from large crowds of angry demonstrators. Three days later they were executed following a brief trial.

Since then, the anniversary of their overthrow has been marked by public events. This year, large-scale memorial services are to be held at cemeteries and sites associated with the revolution in several cities, including Bucharest and Timisoara.

Analysts say the current indifference felt towards the Romanian revolution is partly linked to the fact that is not clear yet what happened behind the scenes.

To this day, nobody has been brought to justice for the deaths of more than 1,000 people killed and 3,400 wounded in December 1989.