Former Romanian President Ion Iliescu Dies At 95

Ion Iliescu, Romania’s first democratically elected president and a key figure during the country’s post-communist transition, has died at the age of 95.

He passed away in a Bucharest hospital, where he had been admitted in early June following a diagnosis of lung cancer.

“It is with deep regret that the government announces the passing of the former President of Romania, Mr Ion Iliescu,” a statement from authorities read. Plans for a state funeral are expected to be announced shortly.

Iliescu held the presidency during two separate terms — first from 1986 to 1996, and later from 2000 to 2004. Though seen as a central player in Romania’s move toward democracy after the fall of communism in 1989, his legacy remains controversial.

He faced allegations of crimes against humanity due to his involvement in the 1989 revolution that led to the execution of dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. However, despite formal charges being filed in 2019, Iliescu was never found guilty in court.

He was also charged in a separate case related to the 1990 violent repression of anti-government protests, after he summoned miners to confront student demonstrators—a dark event in Romanian history known as the “Mineriad.” The incident was condemned worldwide.

Before his final hospital stay, Iliescu had been under routine care at Elias Hospital in the capital. Back in 2019, he underwent heart surgery to treat a pericardial effusion, a condition involving fluid buildup around the heart.

Born on March 3, 1930, in Oltenița, a town in southern Romania, Iliescu had kept a low public profile in recent years. He occasionally shared brief writings on his personal blog.

His last public message was posted on May 19, congratulating Bucharest’s liberal and pro-European mayor, Nicușor Dan, on his new appointment as president.