Referendum law amendment adopted by deputies

The parliamentarians adopted on articles the draft that provides suspending the president with a majority of valid votes of those who submitted to referendum, broadcasted us the editor of Radio Romania News, Iulia Gherman.

"PDL representatives demanded the draft to be referred to the committee of that term on September 3rd for amendments to be respected".

LDP leader of the Chamber of Deputies, Mircea Toader, said that USL does not want the adoption of uniform laws, but only suspending President Traian Băsescu.

"You have changed only for Romanian President. It is clear; we should not try to find a justification, but with your desire to suspend the Romanian President, not to have a uniform law.
"Why didn’t you make amendment to make the same similarity for mayors and county council president?", said Mircea Toader.

In response, USL parliamentarians argued that the draft is correct and the dismissal of local elected is governed by the law 215, which provides the same procedure of half plus one of those who participate at the referendum.

"The referendum law states very clearly, both for mayors and chairmen of county councils, presence half plus one, of which half plus one of those who were present.

"It is clear here, we don’t give the feeling that within other law is something else," said Florin Iordache from USL.

Previously, the Judiciary Committee of the Chamber of Deputies gave a favorable report on the amendment to referendum law on which the President may be suspended by a majority of those who come to referendum.

The draft will be subject to final vote of the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday, which is decisional for.

PDL announced that, if adopted, will appeal the legal document to the Constitutional Court.

According to current law, dismissal of the president after a referendum is approved if the proposal has met "a majority of voters included in voter lists."

According to referendum law, the participants shall be taken by "yes" or "no" to the question: "Do you agree with the Romanian president's dismissal?".

The president had already been through the procedure of suspension

President Traian Băsescu had already undergone a procedure of suspending.

This occurred during the first term as head of state in 2007.

Parliament approved the suspension of the President, but at the referendum, the decision to dismiss was invalidated by the population.

At the referendum of May 19, 2007 for President Băsescu's dismissal, 74.48 percent of those who were present at the polls voted against, and for his dismissal were pronounced 24.75 percent.

The presence at the referendum was 44.45 percent.

During the suspension of the President from the office, his credentials were accomplished by Nicolae Văcăroiu, at that time the President of the Senate, recalls the editor of Radio Romania News, Luminita Apostolescu.

Translated by Alexandra-Diana Mircea
MTTLC, Bucharest University