Ioan Totu

Ioan Totu (1931-1992) was a Romanian communist politician and diplomat. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania from 1986 to 1989, under the regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu.

Totu was born in Văleni, Vaslui County. He rose through the ranks of the Romanian Communist Party (PCR), holding various positions within the party apparatus before being appointed to ministerial posts. His career advancement was largely attributed to his loyalty to Ceaușescu.

As Foreign Minister, Totu was responsible for implementing Romania's foreign policy, which, despite being part of the Warsaw Pact, often pursued independent and sometimes divergent paths from the Soviet Union. He was involved in diplomatic efforts to improve relations with Western countries and maintain Romania's economic ties.

Following the Romanian Revolution of 1989, Totu was arrested and tried for his role in the Ceaușescu regime. He was found guilty of complicity in genocide and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He died in prison in 1992. His legacy remains controversial, given his involvement in a repressive regime and his subsequent conviction for crimes against the Romanian people.