Former Romanian President Ion Iliescu Passes Away at 95

Sat Oct 18 2025 23:56:49 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Ion Iliescu, who guided Romania through pivotal changes after communism, dies after battling lung cancer.

Ion Iliescu, Romania's first freely elected president, has died at the age of 95, following a battle with lung cancer. He played a significant role in the nation's transition from a communist regime, serving two terms in office. His legacy is marred by accusations of human rights violations during turbulent political times.

Former Romanian President Ion Iliescu has passed away at the age of 95 after a battle with lung cancer, as confirmed by the Romanian government. His influence on the country was profound, having been at the forefront during Romania's transition from communism to democracy, serving two terms as president from 1990 to 1996 and again from 2000 to 2004.

Iliescu's health had deteriorated recently, leading to his hospitalization in early June. The government expressed deep sorrow in a statement regarding his death, indicating that plans for a state funeral would be announced soon.

Despite being a prominent figure in Romanian politics, his legacy is contentious. Iliescu was accused of crimes against humanity related to the violent uprising that ended the communist regime in 1989, a charge he has consistently denied. Although he faced legal proceedings in 2019, he was never convicted. Additionally, his controversial decision to summon miners to suppress student protests in 1990, an event now referred to as the Mineriad, drew international criticism for its brutality.

Initially born on March 3, 1930, in Oltenița, Iliescu had retrained from the public eye in recent times, although he remained active on his personal blog, with his last message posted on May 19, 2022, where he congratulated the mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan.