Ion Iliescu passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the age of 95.
Reactions to the news were immediate.
The messages conveyed at the death of Ion Iliescu reflect radically different positions: PSD pays a solemn and laudatory tribute to the former president, USR adopts an acidic and critical tone, reminding of the unresolved traumas of the Revolution and the mineriads, while Ilie Bolojan, on behalf of PNL, offers a balanced statement, marked by sobriety, emphasizing that Iliescu "now enters history and the right analysis of it".
- Sorin Grindeanu, interim leader of PSD: "With deep sadness, we learned of the passing of former President of Romania, Ion Iliescu. In these moments of sorrow, I extend sincere condolences to the grieving family, loved ones, and all who knew and valued him. A prominent figure in recent history, Ion Iliescu, the first president of democratic Romania, made a major contribution in defining moments for the fate of Romanians, such as the accession to NATO and the European Union. For me and my colleagues in PSD, Ion Iliescu remains the social-democratic leader who fundamentally influenced the party's evolution, a politician who demonstrated profound empathy towards all those in difficulty. Regardless of divergent opinions, his contribution to the country's transition to democracy remains part of the collective memory".
- Marcel Ciolacu, former leader of PSD: "Today, Romania lost one of the most influential personalities in its recent history. Ion Iliescu, emblematic leader of Romanian social democracy, was a defining figure in our country's transition to democratic and European values after the December 1989 Revolution. As President of Romania and leader of the most important left-wing party, he played an essential role in stabilizing and democratically reconstructing the Romanian state. He decisively contributed to opening Romania's path to NATO and the European Union, promoting a strategic vision in this regard. The Snagov Declaration of 1995 and the Constitution revision of 2003 remain defining moments of this journey. Ion Iliescu believed in dialogue, balance, and solidarity. He was an authentic intellectual, a man of ideas and principles, who consistently promoted social values and the common good. In an exceptional political career, he stood out for his calmness, consistency, and reason. I pay tribute with respect and gratitude for everything he meant for Romania and the Social Democratic Party!"
- Dominic Fritz, USR President: "Ion Iliescu's death is painful not because of his departure, but because it leaves us with so many open wounds. Yes, he played an important role, in his last term, in strategically orienting Romania towards NATO and the European Union - a direction that still defines us today. But we cannot ignore - yes, even today - the suffering of those who paid with blood during the Revolution and the mineriads for the right to freedom and democracy. We cannot ignore that he presided over a post-communist system whose tentacles still hold us back today. Many still await justice. And Ion Iliescu took with him answers to questions that still trouble society. May God forgive him. Forgiveness for those whom he took hope, freedom, and prosperity from will not come without justice and truth. And until then, Romania's fate will depend not only on those who lead us, but on each of us. On our ability to confront and heal the wounds of the past. And on our courage to generate, from this confrontation, energy to build the future."
- Ilie Bolojan, Prime Minister and PNL leader: "Ion Iliescu, former President of Romania and political leader in the post-1989 period, passed away today. He held the position of head of state for two terms and led the main left-wing party of those years. During his term, documents and decisions were adopted that influenced Romania's direction, including the Snagov Declaration and the Constitution revision of 2003, acts that were the basis for major political and institutional changes. His passing marks the end of a significant phase in the country's recent history, marked by the post-communist transition and essential transformations in public life. Ion Iliescu now enters history and the right analysis of it."