Former Romanian President Ion Iliescu has died at the age of 95.
Ion Iliescu dies: What’s the cause of death?
He was known for leading Romania through its difficult transition from a communist state to a democracy.
According to BBC News, Iliescu had been diagnosed with lung cancer and was hospitalised in early June in Bucharest, Romania’s capital.
He had also undergone surgery in 2019 for a condition affecting the heart known as pericardial effusion.
In recent years, he had received regular medical check-ups at Elias Hospital and had largely withdrawn from public life.
A controversial political career
Iliescu served as Romania’s first freely elected president after the fall of communism. He held office twice—first from 1986 to 1996, and then from 2000 to 2004.
His leadership came at a time when Romania was going through major political and social changes.
He was accused of crimes against humanity for his role in the 1989 revolution that overthrew communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu. Iliescu always denied the charges, which were formally brought against him in 2019.
However, he was never convicted.
Iliescu was also criticised for his response to protests after his election in 1990. That same year, he called in groups of miners to crush student demonstrations.
The violent events, known as the Mineriad, drew international criticism and remain a dark moment in Romania’s post-communist history.
Personal background and final years
Iliescu was born on 3 March 1930 in Oltenița, a city in southern Romania.
After serving in top positions within the communist regime, he broke away and later emerged as a leading figure in post-revolution Romania.
In his final years, Iliescu remained out of the public eye but continued to post occasional written messages on his blog.
His last post, dated 19 May 2025, was a message of congratulations to Bucharest’s mayor Nicusor Dan.
A statement from the Romanian government confirmed his death and noted that details of a state funeral would be announced soon.