Former Romanian President Ion Iliescu Dies at 95
Ion Iliescu, the former president of Romania, has died at the age of 95. He passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, after being hospitalized since June with lung cancer. The Romanian government announced his death and declared August 7, 2025, a day of national mourning.
Iliescu's legacy remains a complex and polarizing topic in Romania. He was a key figure in the 1989 Romanian Revolution, which resulted in the overthrow and execution of communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. He went on to become the country's first freely elected president, serving two terms from 1990 to 1996 and again from 2000 to 2004. During his time in office, Romania began its process of integrating with NATO and the European Union.
However, his presidency was also defined by significant controversy. Critics accused him of using violence to maintain power, notably during the bloody revolution and the "mineriads"—brutal crackdowns on anti-government protests by coal miners in the 1990s. Iliescu faced investigations for crimes against humanity in connection with these events but was never convicted. At the time of his passing, he was the oldest living former president of Romania.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
