Basescu gets break in referendum

On Tuesday, July 10, the court ruled that at least half of registered voters must cast ballots in the July 29 referendum for the result to be valid, the Financial Times reported.

An escalating power struggle between Basescu and Prime Minister Victor Ponta has triggered international concern over the state of democracy and the rule of law in the Eastern European country.

Viviane Reding, the European Union’s commissioner for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship, said Romania’s bid to join the visa-free Schengen zone could be jeopardized.

“If there are not very reliable reassurances and concrete action by the Romanian government with regards to the re-establishment of the rule of law in Romania, the country may lose years in the process of full integration into the EU,” she was quoted as saying.

On July 6, the Romanian parliament voted to impeach President Traian Basescu, effectively suspending him and triggering the referendum process. Ponta’s leftist coalition argued that the president had overstepped his powers and meddled in political institutions.

The power struggle has also raised concern that the International Monetary Fund might reconsider the country’s its five-billion-dollar financial support package.

KA/HGL

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