Ion Iliescu, the first President of democratic Romania, died on 5 August, at the age of 95. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and hospitalized in early June in Bucharest.
Iliescu’s health had been declining in recent years. Before his hospitalization, he had been receiving regular medical check-ups at Elias Hospital in Bucharest. In 2019, he underwent surgery for treatment.
Iliescu was the first democratically elected President and served twice between 1990 – 1996 and 2000 – 2004. He served as the leader of the Social Democratic Party.
Iliescu was a central figure in the nation’s democratic transition and the 1989 Romanian Revolution, which, between 16 – 25 December, overthrew Ceausescu.
A government statement announced the president’s death. “It is with deep regret that the government announces the passing of the former president of Romania, Ion Iliescu.”
The legacy of Ion Iliescu is complex and divisive in many ways; he was the father of modern Romania, but he was also seen as corrupt and a negative force in Romanian politics.
Under his leadership, Iliescu initiated the processes that would lead to the country’s integration with NATO and the EU.
He was also responsible for guiding the country’s democracy during a difficult period as part of the democratic transition, under difficult circumstances.
He was, however, accused of crimes against humanity for his role in the violent revolution that toppled the communist regime in 1989. Pressure has also been placed on him for a violent response to protests called the Mineraid in 1990.
A number of tributes and statements have been made by public figures and politicians within Romania.
President Nicusor Dan said that “History will judge the central character in the ’90s transition.” “It is our responsibility to clarify the major unresolved cases of that era, in order to move forward with full awareness. May God forgive him.”
Former Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said that “one of the most influential personalities in recent history, Ion Iliescu, an emblematic leader of Romanian social democracy, was a defining figure in our country’s transition to democratic and European values in the 1989 revolution.”
The current leader of the Social Democratic Party, Sorin Grindeanu, said that Iliescu, “he remains the social-democratic leader who fundamentally shaped the party’s development and a political leader who showed deep empathy for those in difficulty.”
This will open questions and reflections on the nature of Iliescu’s complex legacy.
