Iliescu, Ion (1930– )

Romanian president 1990–96, and 2000–04. A former member of the Romanian Communist Party (PCR) and of Nicolae Ceauşescu's government, Iliescu swept into power on Ceauşescu's fall as head of the National Salvation Front.

Iliescu was elected a member of the PCR central committee in 1968 and became its propaganda secretary in 1971. Conflict over the launching of a ‘cultural revolution’ and the growth of Ceauşescu's personality cult led to Iliescu's removal from national politics: he was sent to Timişoara as chief of party propaganda. At the outbreak of the ‘Christmas revolution’ in 1989, Iliescu was one of the first leaders to emerge, becoming president of the Provisional Council of National Unity in February 1990. He won an overwhelming victory in the presidential elections in May 1990, despite earlier controversy over his hard line in politics.

In the presidential elections held in late 2000, the ruling National Liberal Party was divided against itself, and Iliescu defeated the extreme nationalist candidate Corneliu Vadim Tudor in the second round.

Iliescu was educated at the Bucharest Polytechnic Institute and the Institute for Energetics in Moscow.