Romania's ex-president Ion Iliescu, aged 95, has sadly passed away.
Former Romanian President Ion Iliescu Passes Away at the Age of 95
Ion Iliescu, a significant figure in Romanian political history, has passed away at the age of 95. His death marks the end of a chapter that saw Romania transition from communism to democracy.
Iliescu, a former president of Romania, served two terms as the country's head of state, from 1990 to 1996 and from 2000 to 2004. He was initially a member of the Romanian Communist Party but became marginalized under Nicolae Ceaușescu's regime.
During the December 1989 revolution, which overthrew Ceaușescu and led to over 1,100 deaths, Iliescu emerged as a leading figure, heading the interim government—the National Salvation Front—starting December 26, 1989. He was a founder of the National Salvation Front (FSN) political party in early 1990, which later splintered into other parties including the Social Democratic Party (PSD), of which he was founder and honorary president.
Iliescu was elected president with about 85% of the vote in May 1990, and reelected in 1992 under a new constitution by 61.5% of the vote. However, his government was criticized for including many former communists and for not aggressively pursuing the economic and social reforms needed to alleviate poverty and nationalism in Romania, which contributed to political divisions.
Despite losing the presidency in the 1996 election, he returned to power in 2000. During his second term, Romania joined NATO (2004), and he supported efforts toward European Union accession (the country eventually joined in 2007).
Iliescu's career was marked by notable controversies, including his role and decisions during the 1989 revolution. In 2018, he was charged with crimes against humanity related to his alleged approval of military actions that led to deadly violence during the revolution’s aftermath, such as spreading panic via false media reports that provoked unnecessary shootings. In 2020, a court initially rejected the case due to procedural irregularities, but the case was revived in 2023.
Prior to his passing, Iliescu had been hospitalized in Bucharest since early June. The Romanian government has conveyed their sorrow over his passing and indicated that further details regarding a state funeral would be forthcoming.
[1] BBC News. (2025, August 5). Ion Iliescu, Romania's former president, dies aged 95. BBC News. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58196964 [2] The Guardian. (2025, August 5). Ion Iliescu, Romania's former president, dies aged 95. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/05/ion-iliescu-romanias-former-president-dies-aged-95 [3] The New York Times. (2025, August 5). Ion Iliescu, Former Romanian President, Dies at 95. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/world/europe/ion-iliescu-dead.html [4] Reuters. (2025, August 5). Former Romanian President Ion Iliescu dies aged 95. Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/former-romanian-president-ion-iliescu-dies-aged-95-2025-08-05/ [5] The Washington Post. (2025, August 5). Ion Iliescu, former Romanian president, dies at 95. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ion-iliescu-former-romanian-president-dies-at-95/2025/08/05/7c7a0a0a-1a86-11ed-b59d-55f905a90f81_story.html
[1] As Romania navigates the complexities of aging populace and health-and-wellness issues, the passing of a significant figure like Ion Iliescu raises questions about politics and leadership in healthcare.
[2] The recent events surrounding Iliescu's death, including allegations of crimes against humanity, underscore the relevance of investigating war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice in shaping a nation's future and its relationships with general-news coverage.
[3] In light of Romania's modern history of transition and transformation, it is crucial for science and academia to study and analyze the political decisions made by figures like Iliescu that have led to the state's current standing in the global arena.