Former president Ion Iliescu of Romania is laid to rest in Bucharest after an official funeral ceremony.
Former Romanian President Ion Iliescu's State Funeral: A Divisive Event
Ion Iliescu, Romania's former president, who passed away on Tuesday, August 5, at the age of 95, was laid to rest on Thursday, August 7. The funeral service was an official mourning day in Bucharest, and the National Anthem was played during the state funeral.
The coffin with Iliescu's body was taken out of Cotroceni Palace by soldiers, and the funeral service was performed by the vicar bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, Timotei Prahoveanul. The funeral procession passed in front of the 30th Guard Brigade "Mihai Viteazul," and the Honor Guard paid final tribute to Iliescu on the Marinescu Plateau. The burial was concluded with a 21-gun salute.
However, the funeral was marked by the absence of some prominent figures. Among those who did not attend were Romania's last two presidents, Nicusor Dan and Klaus Iohannis, as well as Mircea Geoana, former president of the PSD, former foreign minister, and former president of the Senate.
Nicușor Dan, the current head of state, and Klaus Iohannis, former president of Romania, opted not to be present at the ceremonies out of respect but likely also because of Iliescu's controversial legacy and political differences. The Save Romania Union (USR), a political party to which Nicușor Dan is connected, officially declared it would not attend the funeral, signaling a distancing from Iliescu's legacy.
Both Iohannis and Dan issued public condolences expressing respect but refrained from attending. Nicușor Dan acknowledged Iliescu as a central figure of the 1990s transition and called for historical clarification, emphasizing a nuanced view: "History will judge Ion Iliescu... May God forgive him." Klaus Iohannis focused on the impact of Iliescu's presidential terms while extending condolences to his family.
Given Ion Iliescu's divisive role in Romania's post-communist history, marked by controversies and complex legislation, this absence by current and former presidents underlines ongoing political and societal divisions over his legacy.
[1] Source: Save Romania Union (USR) statement, Romania TV
[2] Source: Official statements from Klaus Iohannis and Nicușor Dan
[3] Source: Analysis by Romanian political analysts
The divisive nature of Ion Iliescu's political career was underscored by the absence of some prominent figures at his state funeral, including Romania's last two presidents and the Save Romania Union (USR) party. This absence not only reflects ongoing political differences but also highlights the complexities and controversial legacy that Iliescu left behind in Romania's post-communist history.
