Ion Iliescu, the former Romanian president who played a pivotal role in steering the country out of communism and into democracy, has died at the age of 95, the Romanian government confirmed Tuesday.
Once hailed as a symbol of change following the 1989 anti-communist revolution, Iliescu’s political legacy remains sharply debated in Romania. His death marks the end of an era defined by both hope and upheaval, reform and controversy.
Born in 1930 in the southern city of Oltenița, Iliescu studied engineering in the former Soviet Union before returning to Romania and joining the Communist Party. His early political career saw him rise through the ranks under Nicolae Ceaușescu, before falling out of favor in the 1980s.
As Ceaușescu’s brutal regime collapsed during the bloody 1989 revolution, Iliescu emerged from political obscurity and assumed leadership of the National Salvation Front. That movement quickly filled the power vacuum left by the ousted dictatorship.
He was elected Romania’s first democratically chosen president in 1990, and served until 1996. He returned for a final term from 2000 to 2004, overseeing key milestones including Romania’s entry into NATO and the formal start of negotiations for European Union membership.
Despite his role in ushering in democratic reforms, Iliescu’s record is shadowed by allegations of wrongdoing during Romania’s fragile transition. Prosecutors formally indicted him in 2018 for crimes against humanity over the events of the 1989 revolution, in which more than 1,000 people were killed.
His passing triggered a wave of responses from both admirers and critics.
Current Romanian President Nicușor Dan acknowledged Iliescu’s influence, saying he was “the central character of the 90s transition.”
“History will judge him,” Dan added. “It is our responsibility to clarify the major unresolved cases of that era, to move forward with full awareness. May God forgive him.”
Former Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu described Iliescu as “one of the most influential personalities in Romania’s recent history,” while Sorin Grindeanu, current leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), called him “a politician who showed deep empathy for those in difficulty.”
“Regardless of divergent views,” Grindeanu said, “his contribution to Romania’s transition to democracy remains part of our collective memory.”
In recent years, Iliescu had largely retreated from public life. Before his last hospitalization, he received regular treatment at Elias Hospital in Bucharest. He had no children and is survived by his wife, Nina Șerbănescu.
The Romanian government announced that a state funeral will be held over two days, August 6 and 7. His body will lie in state in Bucharest to allow members of the public to pay their respects. A military ceremony will follow at the Ghencea Military Cemetery.