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.
"Iliescu" redirects here. For other people with the surname, see Iliescu (surname).
Ion Iliescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu (as president)
National Salvation Front Council (interim government)
Emil Constantinescu
Petru Enache (as First Secretary of the Union of Communist Youth)
3 March 1930
Oltenița, Kingdom of Romania
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)
- Alexandru Iliescu (father)
- Maria Dumitru Toma (mother)
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.[1][2] The indictment was remade and in 2023 the Court of Appeals decided that the trial can start.[3] Iliescu is currently the oldest living former Romanian president.
Presidential styles of
Ion Iliescu
Președintele (President)
Președintele (President)
Domnia Sa/Excelența Sa (His Excellency)
: Knight Grand Cross of the Grand Order of King Tomislav ("For outstanding contribution to the promotion of friendship and development co-operation between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Romania." – 12 May 2003)
Croatia
: Knight Grand Cross with Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic – 15 October 2003[58]
Italy
: Emblema de Onoare al Armatei României ("The Romanian Army's Badge of Honor") – 24 October 2012[61]
