Who became Romanian President after the 1989 Revolution?

Ion Iliescu became Romania's leading president after the 1989 Revolution that overthrew communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. He first headed the provisional National Salvation Front and then won Romania's first post-communist presidential election in 1990.

The revolution began in December 1989 amid protests against Ceaușescu's regime. Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena, were executed on December 25, 1989. Iliescu, a former communist official who had fallen out of favor with Ceaușescu, emerged as the central political figure during the transition and served as president from 1990 to 1996.

Iliescu later returned to office after winning the 2000 election, serving until 2004. His role remains controversial: supporters viewed him as a stabilizing figure during a dangerous transition, while critics argued that former communists retained too much power and questioned the government's handling of post-revolution violence. A common mix-up is naming Nicolae Ceaușescu, who was the ruler overthrown by the revolution rather than its successor.