Suspended Romanian president hands over power

Romanian President Traian Basescu has handed over power to the parliament speaker Crin Antonescu after the country's constitutional court approved his suspension by lawmakers. According to the parliament's decision, a referendum is to be held on July 29 on the suspension decision, in order to go ahead with impeachment procedures. Antonescu, a member of the center-left ruling coalition headed by Prime Minister Victor Ponta and a rival of the center-right suspended president, will now be interim head of state until referendum results are announced. The situation in Romania, which joined the EU five years ago, has alarmed fellow European countries, the United States and rights groups, raising concerns about the state of democracy in the country.