Former President of Romania, Ion Iliescu, who presided over the Eastern European country’s chaotic transition from communism to democracy, is dead.
Iliescu’s passing was announced in a statement by the Romanian government on Tuesday, confirming that the former leader died at the age of 95.
The late former president had been hospitalised for lung cancer in early June. Last week, the Bucharest hospital, where he was receiving treatment, reported that his general condition was “critical.”
“It is with deep regret that the government announces the passing of the former President of Romania, Mr. Ion Iliescu,” the statement read.
The government extended its condolences to Iliescu’s family and all those close to him, adding that details of his state funeral would be communicated in the coming days.
Iliescu, a key political figure, was last seen in public in 2017, when he was questioned by prosecutors.
Born on March 3, 1930, Iliescu served as the minister for youth under former dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu, but he fell out of favor in the 1970s and was politically sidelined.
He rose to power during the December 1989 anti-communist uprising that toppled Ceaușescu, under murky circumstances. He became the self-appointed leader of the interim governing body known as the National Salvation Front.
Iliescu then won a landslide victory in Romania’s first democratic elections in May 1990.
He was reelected in 1992 but lost the 1996 elections. However, he returned to power in 2000 for his final term, as allowed by the Constitution.
During his third term, Romania joined NATO in 2004 and signed the European Union accession treaty, with full membership achieved in 2007.
In recent years, Iliescu faced charges of crimes against humanity related to the violent events during the fall of communism.
Details about his funeral arrangements are expected soon.
