Romanian President survives impeachment vote

Romania’s suspended President Traian Basescu was poised to survive an impeachment referendum due to low turnout, according to the official preliminary results announced early Monday. The country’s election bureau estimated turnout at 45.9%, which is below the 50% required to make the result valid. Basescu, who has been suspended by parliament, had asked his supporters to boycott the vote, according to the (BBC) The centre-left government had accused the centre-right president of exceeding his authority and of meddling in government affairs. According to the referendum law, the president is dismissed with 50% plus one vote of those voting and the referendum is considered valid if the turnout is 50% plus one citizen from the permanent electoral lists. The preliminary results of the Central Electoral Bureau are only estimates, based on the centralization of votes in 2,889 polling stations, out of 18,242, said Dan Sova, senator of the major ruling Social Democratic Party. The “real” result will be known after completion of counting votes, stressed Liberal’s Vice-Chairman Relu Fenechiu, adding that “we believe the final turnout will be about 52%.” Acting President Crin Antonescu said he will wait for the official results of the Sunday’s referendum. This is the second time that Basescu went through an impeachment referendum, after he survived the popular consultation organized on May 19, 2007