In Memoriam: Ion Iliescu (1930 – 2025)

Ion Iliescu served as President of Romania from 1990 to 1996 and again from 2000 to 2004, playing a key role role in the country’s political and social transformation after the fall of the communist regime. His biography was deeply intertwined with Romania’s destiny during a time of profound political, economic, and social change. He led the country through its transition from a totalitarian regime to a pluralist democratic system, contributing to political stability and the creation of democratic institutions.

Today, Romania is a consolidated democracy, a member of the European Union and NATO. This long and challenging journey was achieved through the collective efforts of society, but it also bears the imprint of the former President’s political vision.

Over the years, Ion Iliescu worked closely with international organizations and European partners, advocating through his discourse for a democratic and socially oriented Romania, aligned with European values. His relationship with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Romania was a constant one, based on shared ideas about social justice and democratic progress.

His political legacy remains complex, at times ambivalent, but fundamental for understanding the country’s trajectory over the past decades.

May he rest in peace.