A clear majority of 74% voted in favour of Basescu in a referendum on 19 May 2007, allowing him to fend off an impeachment procedure.
In a speech following the vote, Basescu said: “I draw a single conclusion from this vote and that’s that Romanians want to change the political class.”
However the ongoing political row between the country’s president and its prime minister has caused some headache in Brussels. The Commission has urged Romania to pass the necessary reforms following the country’s EU accession earlier this year.
Commission President José Manuel Barroso stated: “I hope that this outcome will contribute to allow Romania, as a full member of the EU, to move forward with the reforms that are needed, especially in the areas of judicial reform and the fight against corruption.”
In April the parliament had suspended the president, accusing him of violating the constitution by surpassing his mandate, but the constitutional court dismissed the charges due to a lack of evidence.
A Commission report on Romania, judging its progress in the areas of reform is due in June this year. The report could trigger safeguards limiting the country’s access to EU funds.
