Profile of Ion Iliescu

· Born March 3, 1930, in Oltenita, southern Romania.

· Attended secondary school in Bucharest. Subsequently graduated from electrical engineering faculty of Bucharest Polytechnic and the Energy Institute, Moscow. From 1955 worked as researcher at Institute of Energy Studies in Bucharest.

· Involved in politics from early age. Founded Union of High School Students Associations in 1948 and Union of Students Associations of Romania in 1956.

· Served as Minister of Youth, 1967-71.

· Appointed secretary of Communist Party Central Committee, 1971. Clashed with Romanian leader Nicolae Ceausescu, however, and was removed from post after six months. Went on to serve as deputy chairman of Iasi County council, 1974-79, before being forced from politics because of anti-Ceausescu opinions.

· Served as chairman of National Waters Council, 1979-84, and director of National Publishing House for Technical Literature, 1984-89.

· Following revolution of December 22, 1989, called upon to lead first post-communist body of state power, National Salvation Front Council. Delivers Declaration of Democracy on national radio and television.

· In multi-party elections on May 20, 1990, Iliescu's left-wing National Salvation Front (NSF) wins sweeping victory. Iliescu becomes president of Romania.

· Leaves NSF in March 1992 to form Democratic National Salvation Front, subsequently renamed Social Democratic Party of Romania (PDSR).

· Re-elected president of Romania in elections of October 11, 1992.

· In elections of November 3, 1996, centre-right Democratic Convention led by Emil Constantinescu defeats Iliescu's PDSR. Constantinescu elected president on second ballot. Iliescu becomes opposition leader.

· Wins majority of votes in election of November 26, 2000, but not the 50 percent needed to avoid going to second ballot for presidency.

· Married to engineer Elena Iliescu.

· Has published several books including Global Problems: Creativity (1992), Revolution and Reform (1993) and Moments of History (1994).

CNN Election Watch
Romania
Ex-president Iliescu leads Romanian poll
November 27, 2000
Romania's left set to regain power
November 25, 2000
Romanians hope for better future
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Social Democratic Party of Romania

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