Voters let Romania president stay

Traian Basescu survives an impeachment vote and stays on as president.

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Supporters of Basescu have been celebrating since the results became known [AFP]

Triumphant return

 

The results mean Basescu – locked for months in a political standoff with the prime minister and members of parliament over his aggressive attempts at reform – can return to office once the results are validated.

 

Basescu, celebrating his victory, said the referendum showed that the public backs his push to enact change in the new EU nation.

 

“Romanians want justice, and we have an obligation to give them what they want,” he said. “I appeal to parliament to co-operate in taking into account today’s vote.”

 

Calin Popescu Tariceanu, the prime minister and a one-time ally who has publicly clashed with Basescu in recent weeks, said he would work with Basescu, saying Romanians had given Basescu “a second chance”.

 

“I respect this decision, and will act in a spirit of collaboration with the president.”

 

About 1,000 Basescu supporters celebrated late on Saturday in central Bucharest, waving orange flags and banners, and chanting the president’s name while calling for Tariceanu’s resignation.

 

Thousands of others also celebrated in Cluj, Timisoara, Constanta and Brasov.

 

Aggressive reforms

 

Basescu, joining the celebrations, vowed to do “everything possible” to modernise the country.

 

“I will not negotiate the people’s hopes for a modern country, a new Romania that is different than the one which emerged during the transition” from communism, he said.

 

Basescu has been a strong proponent of reform, guiding the country as it joined the European Union this year.

 

However, he has clashed openly on policy with his prime minister, with both waging highly publicised verbal attacks in the media.

 

Last month, Tariceanu expelled several cabinet ministers seen as Basescu allies.

 

Last month, MPs led by the left-wing opposition Social Democratic party voted to suspend him from office and to put the vote on his impeachment to the people.

Source: News Agencies