Romanian opposition-dominated parliament Thursday approved by a
vote of 322 to 108 with 10 abstentions to suspend President Traian
Basescu from office on grounds that he abused his powers.
According to the law, parliament can suspend the president for
30 days and organize a referendum to impeach him from office.
More than half of voting age Romanians would have to approve a
referendum for it to pass, which would be virtually impossible,
given Basesu's popularity and the usually low turnout in Romanian
ballots.
Lawmakers have accused the president of 19 instances of
constitutional abuse such as trying to usurp control of the Cabinet
from the prime minister, criticizing judges and ordering the
tapping of minister's telephone calls.
The Constitutional Court, however, ruled there was no evidence
to back the charges and dismissed the lawmakers' accusations.
Basescu has denied any wrongdoing and had vowed to resign
immediately and run for a new term in the event that parliament
voted to suspend him.
"It's a bad solution for a bad situation," said Deputies'
Chamber speaker Bogdan Olteanu, adding that Basescu should be
impeached because he fueled political conflicts that threatened
Romania's development.
According to the law, the chairman of the Senate, Nicolae
Vacaroiu, is to assume the president's duties during his
suspension, or until a new election can be held if Basescu resigns
or is impeached in a referendum. Vacaroiu, who was a technocratic
prime minister from 1992-96, belongs to the opposition Social
Democratic Party, which also governed the country from 2000-04.
Dozens of Basescu supporters gathered in the capital, with the
president expected to join the rally later.
Basescu is Romania's most popular politician and polls indicate
he would win a new term in office in the event that new elections
are held.
Also on Thursday, Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu said
that the campaign for Romania's presidential election will start in
two months' time.
Tariceanu urged President Traian Basescu and all other potential
presidential candidates to observe the law and refrain from
starting their campaign now.
(China Daily via agencies April 20, 2007)
