Ion Iliescu, Romania's First Elected President, Passes Away at 95

Iliescu's legacy remains contentious amid accusations of human rights violations during his leadership.

Former Romanian President Ion Iliescu has passed away at the age of 95, following a battle with lung cancer. He was hospitalized in early June in Bucharest, where he had been receiving treatment. A government statement expressed deep sorrow over his loss, mentioning that plans for a state funeral would be communicated soon.

Iliescu made history as Romania's first freely elected president, serving two non-consecutive terms from 1996 to 2000 and again from 2000 until 2004. His tenure was marked by significant tumult, transitioning the country from a communist regime to a democratic system. However, he faced serious allegations related to crimes against humanity for his role in the violent protests that led to the fall of communism in 1989; he consistently denied any wrong doing. In 2019, he was formally charged but never convicted.

Additionally, Iliescu was implicated in the infamous "Mineriad" of 1990, in which government-backed miners violently quelled opposition protests, drawing international criticisms. In the years leading up to his passing, Iliescu had stepped back from the public eye, although he remained active online until his health declined, with a final message on May 19 congratulating the newly elected mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, on a successful campaign. Born on March 3, 1930, in Oltenița, Iliescu's complex legacy persists within Romanian political discourse.