List of heads of state of Romania

Last updated

This is a list consisting of all the heads of state of modern and contemporary Romania, since the establishment of the Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia in 1859 to the present day.

Contents

The incumbent head of state, as of 1 September 2025, is President Nicușor Dan. [1]

United Principalities (1859–1881)

  Denotes Regent
DomnitorReignClaim
No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
HouseReign startReign endDuration
1 Alexandru Ioan Cuza - Photo by Carol Popp de Szathmary.jpg Alexandru Ioan Cuza
(1820–1873)
Cuza24 January 185922 February 1866
(Abdicated)
7 years, 29 daysPreviously ruled as Prince of Wallachia and Moldavia
(in a personal union from 1859 until official unification in 1862)
Lascarcatargiu.jpg Lascăr Catargiu
(1823–1899)
22 February 186620 April 186657 days LocotenentaDomneasca1866.jpg
Princely Lieutenancy  [ ro ]
Nicolae Golescu desen.png General
Nicolae Golescu
(1810–1877)
Nicolae Haralmbie.jpg Colonel
Nicolae Haralambie
(1835–1908)
2 Carol I King of Romania.jpg Carol I
(1839–1914)
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 20 April 186615 March 188114 years, 329 days 1866 Referendum

Kingdom of Romania (1881–1947)

  Denotes Regent
  Denotes Conducător
KingReignClaim
No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
HouseReign startReign endTime in office
(2) Carol I King of Romania.jpg Carol I
(1839–1914)
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 15 March 188110 October 191433 years, 209 daysPreviously ruled as Domnitor
3 King Ferdinand of Romania.jpg Ferdinand I
(1865–1927)
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 10 October 191420 July 192712 years, 283 daysNephew of Carol I
4 Michael I of Romania (1927).jpg Michael I
(1921–2017)
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 20 July 19278 June 1930
(Deposed)
2 years, 323 daysGrandson of Ferdinand I
1903Nicholas-09.jpg Prince Nicholas
(1903–1978)
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 20 July 19278 June 1930
(Resigned)
2 years, 323 days 1930 - Regenta - Miron Cristea - Nicolae - Sarateanu.PNG
Regency Council
For Michael I
Miron Cristia patriach of Romania.JPG Patriarch
Miron Cristea
(1868–1939)
1929 - Gheorghe Buzdugan - Regent.PNG Gheorghe Buzdugan
(1867–1929)
7 October 1929
(Died)
2 years, 79 days
1929 - Constantin Sarateanu - Regent.PNG Constantin Sărățeanu  [ ro ]
(1862–1935)
9 October 19298 June 1930
(Resigned)
242 days
5 Carol II of Romania.jpg Carol II
(1893–1953)
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 8 June 19306 September 1940
(Abdicated)
10 years, 90 daysSon of Ferdinand I
(4) Mihai.jpg Michael I
(1921–2017)
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 6 September 194030 December 1947
(Abdicated)
7 years, 115 daysSon of Carol II
Ion Antonescu 1941.jpg Marshal
Ion Antonescu
(1882–1946)
6 September 194023 August 1944
( Deposed )
3 years, 352 days Conducător
With Michael I

Romanian People's Republic/Socialist Republic of Romania (1947–1989)

Title
Status
  Denotes acting Head of State
No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeElectionPolitical partyPosition(s)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
6 CI Parhon.jpg Constantin Ion Parhon
(1874–1969)
30 December 194713 April 1948105 days 1947 PMR President of the Provisional Presidium of the Republic
13 April 194812 June 19524 years, 60 days 1948 President of the Presidium of the Great National Assembly
7 Petru Groza Anefo.jpg Petru Groza
(1884–1958)
12 June 19527 January 1958
(Died)
5 years, 209 days 1952 FP (1952–1953)
Independent (1953–1958)
Mihail Sadoveanu (cropped).jpg Mihail Sadoveanu
(1880–1961)
7 January 195811 January 19584 days PMR Acting presidents of the Presidium of the Great National Assembly
No image.png Anton Moisescu
(1913–2002)
PMR
8 Ion Gheorghe Maurer (1967).jpg Ion Gheorghe Maurer
(1902–2000)
11 January 195821 March 19613 years, 69 days 1958 PMR President of the Presidium of the Great National Assembly
9 Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej1.jpg Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej
(1901–1965)
21 March 196119 March 1965
(Died)
3 years, 363 days 1961 PMR President of the State Council
Ion Gheorghe Maurer (1967).jpg Ion Gheorghe Maurer
(1902–2000)
19 March 196524 March 19655 days PMR Acting presidents of the State Council
Stefan Voitec1.jpg Ștefan Voitec
(1900–1984)
PMR
Avram Bunaciu.jpg Avram Bunaciu
(1909–1983)
PMR
10 Chivu Stoica 1957.jpg Chivu Stoica
(1908–1975)
24 March 19659 December 1967
(Resigned)
2 years, 260 days 1965 PMR
PCR
President of the State Council
11 Nicolae Ceausescu.jpg Nicolae Ceaușescu
(1918–1989)
9 December 196722 December 1989 [a] 22 years, 13 days 1967 PCR
28 March 197422 December 1989
( Deposed )
1974
1980
1985
President of Romania

General Secretary of the Romanian Workers' Party/Romanian Communist Party

PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePosition(s)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej1.jpg Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej
(1901–1965)
16 October 194519 April 19548 years, 185 daysGeneral Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party
21 February 1948General Secretary of the Romanian Workers' Party
Gheorghe Apostol.jpg Gheorghe Apostol
(1913–2010)
19 April 195430 September 19551 year, 164 daysFirst Secretary of the Romanian Workers' Party
Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej1.jpg Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej
(1901–1965)
30 September 195519 March 1965
(Died)
9 years, 170 days
Nicolae Ceausescu.jpg Nicolae Ceaușescu
(1918–1989)
22 March 196522 December 1989
( Deposed )
24 years, 275 days
24 July 1965General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party

Romania (1989–present)

The Constitution of Romania prohibits the President to be a member of any political party while in office. The parties listed below represent the political affiliation before the 1991 Constitution was adopted and the party affiliation of the ad interim (i.e. acting) presidents, for whom such a restriction is not explicitly stipulated in the law.

Title
Status
  Denotes ad interim (i.e. acting) President
No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeElectionPolitical partyGovernment(s)
(Term)
Position(s)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
CFSN Revolution Roumaine.jpg Council of the National Salvation Front [2]
Spokesman: Ion Iliescu
22 December 198926 December 19894 days FSN Itself
(1989)
Collective Head of State
Ion Iliescu - Sep 2003.jpg Ion Iliescu
(1930–2025)
[b]
26 December 1989 [3] 20 June 19906 years, 339 days Feb 1990 FSN
(1989–1992)
FDSN
(1992)
PDSR
(1992–1996)
Roman IIIIII (1989–1991)
Stolojan
(1991–1992)
Văcăroiu
(1992–1996)
President of the Council of the National Salvation Front
President of the Provisional National Unity Council
20 June 199029 November 1996 May 1990
1992
President of Romania
12
(12)
13 Emil Constantinescu.jpg Emil Constantinescu
(born 1939)
29 November 199620 December 20004 years, 21 days 1996 PNȚCD Ciorbea
(1996–1998)
Vasile
(1998–1999)
Isărescu
(1999–2000)
(12) Ion Iliescu - Sep 2003.jpg Ion Iliescu
(1930–2025)
20 December 200020 December 20044 years 2000 PDSR Năstase
(2000–2004)
14 Traian Basescu - Dec 2013.jpg Traian Băsescu
(born 1951)
[c]
20 December 200421 December 201410 years, 1 day 2004 PD
(2004–2007)
PDL
(2007–2014)
Tăriceanu III
(2004–2008)
Boc III
(2008–2012)
Ungureanu
(2012)
Ponta IIIIIIIV
(2012–2014)
(14)
Nicolae Vacaroiu (cropped).jpg Nicolae Văcăroiu
(born 1943)
[d]
20 April 200723 May 200733 days PSD Tăriceanu II
(2007–2008)
ad interim President of Romania
(as President of the Senate)
Crin Antonescu - 28 March 2025.jpg Crin Antonescu
(born 1959)
[e]
10 July 201227 August 201248 days PNL Ponta I
(2012)
ad interim President of Romania
(as President of the Senate)
15 Klaus Iokhannis (52539721210).jpg Klaus Iohannis
(born 1959)
21 December 201412 February 202510 years, 53 days 2014
2019
PNL Ponta IV
(2014–2015)
Cioloș
(2015–2017)
Grindeanu
(2017)
Tudose
(2017–2018)
Dăncilă
(2018–2019)
Orban III
(2019–2020)
Cîțu
(2020–2021)
Ciucă
(2021–2023)
Ciolacu III
(2023–2025)
President of Romania
Ilie Bolojan - 6 March 2025 (cropped).jpg Ilie Bolojan
(born 1969)
[f]
12 February 202526 May 2025103 days PNL Ciolacu II
(2025)
ad interim President of Romania
(as President of the Senate)
16 President Nicusor Dan Official Portrait (cropped) (3).jpg Nicușor Dan
(born 1969)
26 May 2025Incumbent98 days 2025 Independent Ciolacu II
(2025)
Bolojan
(2025)
President of Romania

Timeline

Nicușor DanIlie BolojanKlaus IohannisCrin AntonescuNicolae VăcăroiuTraian BăsescuEmil ConstantinescuIon IliescuCouncil of the National Salvation FrontNicolae CeaușescuChivu StoicaGheorghe Gheorghiu-DejIon Gheorghe MaurerPetru GrozaConstantin Ion ParhonIon AntonescuCarol II of RomaniaMichael I of RomaniaFerdinand I of RomaniaCarol I of RomaniaAlexandru Ioan CuzaList of heads of state of Romania

Lifespan timeline

Nicușor DanIlie BolojanKlaus IohannisCrin AntonescuNicolae VăcăroiuTraian BăsescuEmil ConstantinescuIon IliescuNicolae CeaușescuChivu StoicaAvram BunaciuȘtefan VoitecGheorghe Gheorghiu-DejIon Gheorghe MaurerAnton MoisescuMihail SadoveanuPetru GrozaConstantin Ion ParhonIon AntonescuCarol II of RomaniaConstantin SărățeanuGheorghe BuzduganPatriarch Miron of RomaniaPrince Nicholas of RomaniaMichael I of RomaniaFerdinand I of RomaniaCarol I of RomaniaAlexandru Ioan CuzaList of heads of state of Romania

See also

Footnotes and references

  1. "Romania's new president is sworn in as a political crisis eases, but challenges loom". AP News. 26 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  2. "Countries QR". rulers.org.
  3. "Rulers.org".[ permanent dead link ]
  1. 1 2 Ex officio from 28 March 1974.
  2. Iliescu served as President of Council of the National Salvation Front until 6 February 1990, as President of the Provisional National Unity Council from 6 February 1990 to 20 June 1990, and then as President of Romania until 29 November 1996.
  3. Băsescu was impeached twice during his presidency. His powers and duties were suspended during the impeachment processes from 20 April 2007 to 23 May 2007 and from 10 July 2012 to 27 August 2012.
  4. Văcăroiu acted as President during Băsescu's first impeachment until the latter was reinstated by referendum.
  5. Antonescu acted as President during Băsescu's second impeachment until the latter was reinstated by referendum.
  6. Bolojan acted as President after Iohannis' resignation on 10 February 2025, that took effect on 12 February 2025; he served until the conclusion of the 2025 presidential election.