Vasile Luca | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 7 November 1947 – 9 March 1952 | |
| Prime Minister | Petru Groza |
| Preceded by | Alexandru Alexandrini |
| Succeeded by | Dumitru Petrescu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 June 1898 Szentkatolna, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | 23 July 1963 (aged 65) Aiud Prison, Cluj Region, Romanian People's Republic |
| Nationality | Romanian |
| Political party | Romanian Communist Party |
| Spouse | Elisabeta Luca |
| Signature |  |
Vasile Luca (born László Luka; 8 June 1898 – 23 July 1963) was an Austro-Hungarian-born Romanian and Soviet communist politician, a leading member of the Romanian Communist Party (PCR) from 1945 and until his imprisonment in the 1950s. Noted for his activities in the Ukrainian SSR in 1940–1941, he sided with Ana Pauker during World War II, and returned to Romania to serve as the minister of finance and one of the most recognizable leaders of the Communist regime. Luca's downfall, coming at the end of a conflict with Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, signaled that of Pauker.
He was married to Elisabeta Luca (née Betty Birman), a volunteer in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War, who was also imprisoned following her husband's arrest.