Former Romanian President Ion Iliescu Passes Away at 95

The former president's death marks the end of an era that saw Romania transition from a communist regime to a democratic state.

Ion Iliescu, the former president of Romania, has died at the age of 95 after being hospitalized for lung cancer in Bucharest. His passing was confirmed by the government, which stated it would share details about a state funeral soon. Iliescu, who was instrumental during Romania’s tumultuous shift from communism, served as the country's first freely elected president during two terms between 1996-2004. His legacy is marked by both progress and controversy; he was accused of crimes against humanity related to the violence during the 1989 revolution that ended communism, but always maintained his innocence. In 2019, he faced charges, though he was never convicted. Iliescu also faced scrutiny for his involvement in the "Mineriad," a violent crackdown on protests in 1990. Although he had retreated from the public eye in recent years, he occasionally communicated through his blog. His last post on May 19 congratulated the new pro-EU mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan. Born on March 3, 1930, in Oltenița, Iliescu leaves behind a complex and impactful legacy in Romanian history.