Ion Iliescu

Ion Iliescu - Romanian Men, Birthday and Family

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Ion Iliescu's Personal Details

Ion Iliescu is a Romanian politician who twice served as the President of Romania

InformationDetail
BirthdayMarch 3, 1930
NationalityRomanian
FamousLeaders, Political Leaders, Former President of Romania, Romanian Men
SpousesElena Iliescu
Universities
  • Moscow State University
  • Politehnica University of Bucharest
Founder / Co-Founder
  • Social Democratic Party
  • Democratic National Salvation Front
Birth PlaceOltenița
ReligionAtheism
GenderMale
FatherAlexandru Iliescu
MotherMaria Dumitru Toma
Sun SignPisces
Born inOltenița
Famous asFormer President of Romania

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Ion Iliescu's photo

Who is Ion Iliescu?

Ion Iliescu is a Romanian politician who served as the President of Romania from 1989 until 1996, and from 2000 until 2004. Over the course of his extensive political career he also served as a senator for the Social Democratic Party (PSD) from 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 until his retirement in 2008. The son of a man who harbored communist views, Iliescu’s interest in politics took root when he was quite young. He studied at the Bucharest Polytechnic Institute before moving to Russia as a foreign student at the Energy Institute of the Moscow University. He joined the Communist Party in 1953 and has been playing a vital role in Romania’s politics since then. By 1965, he had become a member of the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party. Once a protégé of the powerful politician Nicolae Ceaușescu, he was gradually marginalized by his former mentor who had started viewing the rising stature of Iliescu as a threat. He opposed President Ceaușescu's harsh rule and played a leading role in the Romanian Revolution following which Ceaușescu was overthrown and executed. Ion Iliescu then became the country’s first freely elected head of state and assumed the office of the president.

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Childhood & Early Life

Ion Iliescu was born on 3 March 1930 in Oltenița, Călărași, Romania, to Alexandru Iliescu. His father was a railroad worker with Communist views who went to the Soviet Union to take part in the Communist Party Congress of Moscow when Ion was a small child. He was arrested upon his return.

He attended the Industrial Polizu High School, Spiru Haret High School and Sfantul Sava High School. Inheriting his father’s passion for communism, he joined the Union of Communist Youth in 1944.

Iliescu studied fluid mechanics at the Bucharest Polytechnic Institute and was accepted as a foreign student at the Energy Institute of the Moscow University.

Career

He began working as a designer engineer at the Energy Engineering Institute in Bucharest in 1955. He was also active in politics during this period, having joined the Communist Party in 1953. He founded the Union of College Students’ Associations of Romania in 1956.

He was a protégé of the powerful communist politician Nicolae Ceaușescu and greatly benefitted when Ceaușescu was elected the party general secretary in 1965. Iliescu became a member of the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party the same year.

Over the ensuing years he gained considerable power within the Romanian Communist Party and at one point of time he served as the head of the Central Committee's Department of Propaganda. From 1967-71, he was the Minister for Youth-related Issues.

Iliescu’s rising political stature, however, disturbed Ceaușescu who started feeling threatened. By 1971, Ceaușescu began marginalizing Iliescu who was by now being viewed as his heir apparent.

In 1974, Ceaușescu became the President of Romania. During this time, Iliescu was made the president of the Iași Council. By this time he had fallen out of favor with Ceaușescu who divested Iliescu of all major responsibilities. When Iliescu started opposing the president’s increasingly harsh rule, he was expelled from the Central Committee in 1984.

The late 1980s marked a very tumultuous period in Romanian history. The Romanian Revolution began in 1989 in which Iliescu played a leading role. The violent revolution overthrew Ceaușescu’s government following which he was arrested and executed.

After the revolution, a political organization National Salvation Front (FSN) was formed which became the governing body of Romania. Iliescu was made the leader of the organization, and the acting President of Romania on 22 December 1989. The following year, he became Romania's first freely elected head of state after winning the 1990 election.

A new constitution was formed in 1991, and the following year he was re-elected to presidency. In 1992, Iliescu and many other members left the FSN and created the Democratic National Salvation Front (FDSN), which eventually developed to the current Social Democratic Party (PSD).

Even though he received much support as a revolutionary during the beginning of his term, his popularity began to wane as he was unable to bring about an atmosphere of economic and political stability. He lost the 1996 elections.

He still remained active in politics and authored several books during the 1990s including ‘Revolution and Reform’ (1993), ‘The Revolution as I Lived It’ (1995), ‘Moments of History’ (1996), ‘Political Life between Violence and Dialogue’ (1998), and ‘Whereto, Romanian Society?’ (1999).

He ran again in the 2000 presidential election and won against Corneliu Vadim Tudor. During his second term he was able to gain entry for Romania into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. His term as the president ended on 20 December 2004.

His presidency was marred by several scandals including allegations of connection with KGB, the main security agency for the Soviet Union from 1954 until its break-up in 1991. He was also criticized for pardoning several criminals convicted for corruption or other economic crimes.

Major Works

Ion Iliescu played a major role in the Romanian Revolution which brought an end to 42 years of Communist rule in Romania with the show trial and execution of the last Communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu. He became the acting president of the nation when a new government was formed after the revolution.

Awards & Achievements

In 1971, he was bestowed with the Order "The Star of the Romanian Socialist Republic First Class."

In 2003, he was decorated with the Croatian honor of 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".

Personal Life & Legacy

Ion Iliescu married Nina Șerbănescu in 1951. The couple does not have any children.

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Ion Iliescu biography timelines

  • // 3rd Mar 1930
    Ion Iliescu was born on 3 March 1930 in Oltenița, Călărași, Romania, to Alexandru Iliescu. His father was a railroad worker with Communist views who went to the Soviet Union to take part in the Communist Party Congress of Moscow when Ion was a small child. He was arrested upon his return.
  • // 1944
    He attended the Industrial Polizu High School, Spiru Haret High School and Sfantul Sava High School. Inheriting his father’s passion for communism, he joined the Union of Communist Youth in 1944.
  • // 1951
    Ion Iliescu married Nina Șerbănescu in 1951. The couple does not have any children.
  • // 1954 To 1991
    His presidency was marred by several scandals including allegations of connection with KGB, the main security agency for the Soviet Union from 1954 until its break-up in 1991. He was also criticized for pardoning several criminals convicted for corruption or other economic crimes.
  • // 1965
    He was a protégé of the powerful communist politician Nicolae Ceaușescu and greatly benefitted when Ceaușescu was elected the party general secretary in 1965. Iliescu became a member of the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party the same year.
  • // 1967 To 1971
    Over the ensuing years he gained considerable power within the Romanian Communist Party and at one point of time he served as the head of the Central Committee's Department of Propaganda. From 1967-71, he was the Minister for Youth-related Issues.
  • // 1971
    Iliescu’s rising political stature, however, disturbed Ceaușescu who started feeling threatened. By 1971, Ceaușescu began marginalizing Iliescu who was by now being viewed as his heir apparent.
  • // 1971
    In 1971, he was bestowed with the Order "The Star of the Romanian Socialist Republic First Class."
  • // 1974 To 1984
    In 1974, Ceaușescu became the President of Romania. During this time, Iliescu was made the president of the Iași Council. By this time he had fallen out of favor with Ceaușescu who divested Iliescu of all major responsibilities. When Iliescu started opposing the president’s increasingly harsh rule, he was expelled from the Central Committee in 1984.
  • // 1989
    The late 1980s marked a very tumultuous period in Romanian history. The Romanian Revolution began in 1989 in which Iliescu played a leading role. The violent revolution overthrew Ceaușescu’s government following which he was arrested and executed.
  • // 22nd Dec 1989 To 1990
    After the revolution, a political organization National Salvation Front (FSN) was formed which became the governing body of Romania. Iliescu was made the leader of the organization, and the acting President of Romania on 22 December 1989. The following year, he became Romania's first freely elected head of state after winning the 1990 election.
  • // 1991 To 1992
    A new constitution was formed in 1991, and the following year he was re-elected to presidency. In 1992, Iliescu and many other members left the FSN and created the Democratic National Salvation Front (FDSN), which eventually developed to the current Social Democratic Party (PSD).
  • // 1996
    Even though he received much support as a revolutionary during the beginning of his term, his popularity began to wane as he was unable to bring about an atmosphere of economic and political stability. He lost the 1996 elections.
  • // 2000 To 20th Dec 2004
    He ran again in the 2000 presidential election and won against Corneliu Vadim Tudor. During his second term he was able to gain entry for Romania into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. His term as the president ended on 20 December 2004.
  • // 2003
    In 2003, he was decorated with the Croatian honor of 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".

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Ion Iliescu's FAQ

  • What is Ion Iliescu birthday?

    Ion Iliescu was born at 1930-03-03

  • Where is Ion Iliescu's birth place?

    Ion Iliescu was born in Oltenița

  • What is Ion Iliescu nationalities?

    Ion Iliescu's nationalities is Romanian

  • Who is Ion Iliescu spouses?

    Ion Iliescu's spouses is Elena Iliescu

  • What was Ion Iliescu universities?

    Ion Iliescu studied at Moscow State University, Politehnica University of Bucharest

  • Which company or organization was founded by Ion Iliescu?

    Ion Iliescu was the founder/co-founder of Social Democratic Party, Democratic National Salvation Front

  • What is Ion Iliescu's religion?

    Ion Iliescu's religion is Atheism

  • Who is Ion Iliescu's father?

    Ion Iliescu's father is Alexandru Iliescu

  • Who is Ion Iliescu's mother?

    Ion Iliescu's mother is Maria Dumitru Toma

  • What is Ion Iliescu's sun sign?

    Ion Iliescu is Pisces

  • How famous is Ion Iliescu?

    Ion Iliescu is famouse as Former President of Romania