Romania's first democratically elected president, Ion Iliescu, passes away at the age of 95
Former Romanian President Ion Iliescu Passes Away at 95
Ion Iliescu, a prominent figure in Romanian politics, passed away on August 5, 2025, at the Agrippa Ionescu Clinical Emergency Hospital in Bucharest. Iliescu served as the first and third President of Romania after its transition to democracy, holding office from 1990 to 1996 and again from 2000 to 2004.
Born in Oltenita, in the south of Romania, in 1930, Iliescu embarked on a distinguished career in the Communist Party after studying Fluid Mechanics in the Soviet Union. He rose through the ranks, becoming head of propaganda and minister of youth. However, his political rise was halted in the 1970s due to his poor relationship with the dictator, who demoted him to technical roles and regional positions.
Iliescu came to power amidst the anti-communist revolution of December 1989 and established the National Salvation Front, which he presided over. He was a key figure in the Romanian revolution that led to the fall of communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his family.
However, Iliescu's political legacy is controversial. While he presided over Romania's transition from communism to democracy and led the country in joining NATO in 2004, he was also criticized for his communist background and authoritarian tendencies. The most controversial episode of Iliescu's government occurred between June 13 and 15, 1990, when thousands of miners from the Jiu Valley came to Bucharest to violently disperse student protests against Iliescu's alleged authoritarianism, resulting in six deaths and many injuries.
Over 800 people died from gunshot wounds before Ceausescu's execution, and some historians blame Iliescu and the FSN for creating a climate of chaos that allowed them to consolidate power. In 2018, the Romanian military prosecutor's office accused Iliescu of crimes against humanity in the trial for the Revolution deaths that began in November 2019.
Despite the controversy, Iliescu earned a reputation as a conciliatory and rational man, which later allowed him to be accepted as the first leader of democratic Romania. He was re-elected in 1992 but lost the elections to Emil Constantinescu in 1996. He returned to power in 2000 to stop the ultranationalist Corneliu Vadim Tudor in the second round.
The Romanian Government, led by conservative Ilie Bolojan, announced the passing of Ion Iliescu. The PSD, a political party founded by Ion Iliescu, has paid tribute to him as a "distinguished figure in recent Romanian history." August 7 will be a national day of mourning in memory of Ion Iliescu. His body will be transferred to the Presidential Palace of Bucharest for a vigil ceremony in the Union Hall on Wednesday. Ion Iliescu will be buried in a state funeral at the Ghencea 3 military cemetery in Bucharest on Thursday. The Romanian flag will fly at half-staff at official buildings on August 7.
Iliescu's political career has been described as paradoxical, blending his communist past with democratic leadership, making him a divisive figure in Romanian history. His legacy will continue to be debated as the nation reflects on his contributions and shortcomings.
Criminal investigations regarding the events of June 13-15, 1990, involving Ion Iliescu's alleged authoritarianism, were part of the crime-and-justice general news in recent years. Moreover, the controversial political activities of Ion Iliescu during the war-and-conflicts of the 1990s, such as his involvement in the protest against the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, have significantly impacted the politics of that era.
