Romanians block move to impeach president

Romanians yesterday rejected an attempt by parliament to impeach reformist President Traian Basescu in a referendum, giving him a mandate to revive his anti-corruption drive.

Two separate exit polls released after voting ended at 7 p.m. showed between 75 and 78 per cent voted "no" to plans to impeach Basescu.

Parliament suspended Basescu as President last month and called the referendum on the grounds he had exceeded his authority and pushed the new European Union nation into a political deadlock. Many ordinary Romanians see the former sea captain as an anti-corruption crusader. Their verdict is a humiliation to Liberal Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu and his Social Democrat allies who led the impeachment drive.

Criss-crossing the country before the referendum, Basescu accused Tariceanu of shielding a network of corrupt politicians and the new business elites that enriched themselves during transition from communism to a market economy.

Tariceanu denies the charges. He says Basescu has an autocratic style and insatiable "thirst for power". Corruption is endemic in the ex-communist Black Sea nation, which joined the EU in January on the premise it would continue judicial reforms needed to root out graft.

That anti-graft drive faltered soon after EU entry and Basescu's allies in government, like respected Justice Minister Monica Macovei and Interior Minister Vasile Blaga, were sacked by Tariceanu. Other judicial reforms were watered down and corruption trials of prominent politicians suspended, raising alarm bells in the EU.

Diplomats say the European Commission is set to admonish the government in its June progress report, with some saying Romania risks sanctions that could cut aid from the bloc.

Analysts said Basescu's victory was likely to force Tariceanu to adopt a more robust anti-corruption agenda. If he was intransigent, he faced defeat in elections next year.