Romania's suspended President Traian Basescu to be reinstated

Romania's suspended President Traian Basescu will be reinstated after he won a referendum on impeachment.

Photo: Romania's suspended President Traian Basescu to be reinstated

Romania's suspended President Traian Basescu to be reinstated

Romanians rejected by 74.4 to 24.8 percent on Saturday parliament's proposal to remove Basescu from office. Lawmakers accused the president of violating the constitution by fueling political disputes and taking on attributions that belong to the prime minister, despite a court ruling that the president did not break the law.

The suspension was the escalation of a three-way political conflict between Basescu, Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu and the opposition-dominated parliament, which worsened after Romania joined the European Union in January.

Last month, Tariceanu, who clashed with Basescu on national television over corruption allegations in the energy markets, joined efforts by the opposition to impeach Basescu.

The court notified parliament of its decision and Basescu will return to office after the court decision is published in the official journal later on Wednesday.

The EU has been watching the situation in Romania, where political disputes have threatened to slow critical reforms in the justice system, which Romania promised to carry out when it was allowed to join the bloc.