What Emil Constantinescu said after Ion Iliescu's death, which he defeated in the 1996 presidential final
Emil Constantinescu, speech at the “Timișoara 35” Gala, within the Reformed Center “New Millennium” in Timisoara, Saturday, December 14, 2024. Inquam Photos / Cornel Putan
Former President of Romania Emil Constantinescu said on Tuesday that Ion Iliescu “went beyond the border of his contemporary judgment in the judgment of history.”
“At the departure of this world, the former president of Romania Ion Iliescu went beyond the border of his contemporary judgment.
Former President Ion Iliescu died on Tuesday at the age of 95. He will be buried on Thursday, August 7, when it will be a national mourning day. The burial ceremony will only take place in the presence of family and close persons.
Traian Basescu and Klaus Iohannis also sent messages of condolences after Ion Iliescu's death.
Constantinescu defeated Iliescu in the 1996 elections
Emil Constantinescu, the candidate of the Romanian Democratic Convention (CDR), defeated Ion Iliescu, at that time in charge, in the second round of the 1996 presidential elections for a difference of over one million votes.
The election remained in the collective mind and for a moment from the electoral debate that Antena 1 organized a few days before the presidential final of November 17, when Emil Constantinescu asked Ion Iliescu if he believes in God.
Emil Constantinescu obtained 7,057,906 votes (54.41%), while Iliescu, the PDSR candidate, took 5,914.579 (45.59%).
In contrast, Iliescu had defeated Constantinescu in the 1992 elections, with 61.43% in 38.56% of the votes expressed.
