Following the announcement of former President Ion Iliescu’s death, journalist and former government adviser Anca Alexandrescu spoke by phone on Realitatea Plus, offering a candid and emotional reflection. Known for her direct relationship with Iliescu, Alexandrescu highlighted both his contributions and the shadows cast by his leadership.
“I knew Ion Iliescu very well. But my duty today is to make a gesture any decent person would make. I’ve seen in recent days a miserable attempt to steer the conversation into a direction that has nothing to do with humanity. There are terrible wounds, and I want to start with those,” she said.
Secrets Taken to the Grave
Alexandrescu emphasized that Iliescu’s death leaves unresolved some of the most important chapters of Romania’s recent history—particularly the 1989 Revolution and the Mineriads:
“Ion Iliescu takes with him secrets we’ll never be able to uncover. It’s a shame he never spoke publicly about what really happened.”
Acknowledging His Achievements
Despite her criticism, Alexandrescu also recognized Iliescu’s undeniable merits in foreign policy:
“During his presidency, Romania became pro-European, joined NATO, and completed negotiations for EU accession. He was a visionary political leader.”
A Balanced Perspective
She didn’t shy away from pointing out the darker aspects of his era:
“As a Romanian citizen, I have things to reproach Ion Iliescu for... During his time and under the PSD he led and endorsed, we saw the economic losses we talk about today, and the closure of everything that once was Romanian industry.”
Her relationship with Iliescu was complex:
“At first, he liked me as a journalist. Then, somehow, he came to detest me. But that doesn’t give me the right not to speak today about both the good and the bad.”
A Call for Decency
She ended with a plea:
“I believe we need balance and moderation today, as we speak about Ion Iliescu’s death. I hope justice will be done for those who suffered and for their families... Historians will determine his role and place.”
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