Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu (Romanian pronunciation: [iˈon iliˈesku] ⓘ; born 3 March 1930) is a Romanian politician and engineer who served as President of Romania from 1989 until 1996 and from 2000 until 2004. Between 1996 and 2000 and also from 2004 to 2008, the year in which he retired, Iliescu was a senator for the Social Democratic Party (PSD), of which he is the founder and honorary president to this day.
Ion Iliescu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Iliescu in 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President of Romania | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 26 December 1989 – 29 November 1996 Acting until 20 June 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Petre Roman Theodor Stolojan Nicolae Văcăroiu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Nicolae Ceaușescu (as president) National Salvation Front Council (interim government) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Emil Constantinescu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 20 December 2000 – 20 December 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Mugur Isărescu Adrian Năstase | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Emil Constantinescu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Traian Băsescu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the National Salvation Front Council | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 22 December 1989 – 13 February 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the Senate of Romania | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 22 November 1996 – 14 December 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 9 June 1990 – 27 September 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Co-Founding Leader of the National Salvation Front | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 22 December 1989 – 7 April 1992 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Petre Roman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founding Leader of the Democratic National Salvation Front | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 7 April 1992 – 11 October 1992 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Oliviu Gherman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President of the Party of Social Democracy in Romania | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office January 1997 – 20 December 2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Oliviu Gherman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Adrian Năstase | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 3 March 1930 Oltenița, Kingdom of Romania | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Romanian Communist Party (1953–1989) National Salvation Front (1989–1992) Democratic National Salvation Front (1992) Independent politician (1992–1996; 2000–2004)[b] Party of Social Democracy in Romania (1996–2000) Social Democratic Party (2004–present) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Nina Iliescu (m. 1951) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parents |
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| Alma mater | Bucharest Polytechnic Institute Moscow State University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Known for | Romanian Revolution | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Atheist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Iliescu joined the Romanian Communist Party (PCR) in 1953 and became a member of its Central Committee in 1965. Beginning with 1971, he was gradually marginalized by Nicolae Ceaușescu. He had a leading role in the Romanian Revolution, becoming the country's president in December 1989. In May 1990, he became Romania's first freely elected head of state. After a new constitution was approved by popular referendum, he served a further two terms, firstly from 1992 to 1996 and then secondly from 2000 to 2004, separated by the presidency of Emil Constantinescu, who defeated him in 1996.
In 2004, during his presidency, Romania joined NATO. In April 2018, Iliescu was charged in Romania with committing crimes against humanity by "approving military measures, some of which had an evidently diversionary character" during the deadly aftermath of the country's 1989 revolution. In 2020, a judge rejected the case due to irregularities in the indictment. The indictment was remade and in 2023 the Court of Appeals decided that the trial can start. Iliescu is currently the oldest living former Romanian president.