Radu Filipescu

Filipescu believed Romanians were dissatisfied with Ceaușescu's leadership and he attempted to organize protests in response.

With his family acknowledging his case abroad, international pressure from several non-governmental organizations (including the French Human Rights League, International Society for Human Rights, and the Swiss organization Le Pavé), and the efforts of politicians from Western Europe and the United States, Filipescu was released from prison on April 18, 1986.

In 1987, after attempting to organize a referendum against Ceaușescu's leadership, he was arrested on December 12 and was interrogated and beaten by Securitate officers.

In May 1988, Filipescu and other political dissidents tried to start a free trade union, called "Libertatea" (Freedom).

After the Romanian Revolution of 1989, Radu Filipescu founded the Group for Social Dialogue and was elected president in 1998.