Referendum on the dismissal of the president in Romania in 2007

The April 20th 2007, the president Traian Băsescu “was suspended” of its functions by 322 deputies, 108 against and 10 abstentions. May 19th, 2007 took place a referendum at the time which the president was supported by 75% (or 79,1%) of the voters. Traian Băsescu had more voice NOT (against the resignation) that at the time of its election to the second round. The day of the referendum, six deputies among the 322 left their party respective to support the president, in spite of their initial vote.

The put question was Be you of agreement with the dismissal of the President of Romania, Mr Traian Băsescu?

The estimated official cost of the referendum rises to 60 million lei, approximately 18 million Euros, approximately an euro by anybody having the right to vote.

To symbolize the bankruptcy of the other hostile political parties to the president, was created the Allée 322, monument which comprises as many stakes as deputies who voted against the president.

Release of the crisis

The primary reason of the vote of the 322 members of Parliament is the abandonment by all the other political parties (except the democratic party) of the support for the president. In particular the liberal national party which was combined with the socialist opposition to relieve the president. This last is shown to have violated the constitution and to have exceeded its functions.

The president was shown by the opposition of “nineteen cases of violations of the Constitution”, a “partisane attitude” and “abandonment of his political role of mediator”, because of his “unjustified refusal to appoint ministers proposed by the Prime Minister” or “to have supported certain economic agents”.

The opinion of its defenders is that Traian Băsescu attacked the large oligarchs, that it opened part of the files of the old secret police (the Securitate), and that it was shown very critical towards the first liberal minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu by showing it of corruption to the service of networks of the gangster type. It would have regularly attacked the press as from the summer 2006, by showing it to support these networks which would try to discredit the democratic institutions in the public opinion. He would have been opposed to the immediate withdrawal of the 1000 Rumanian soldiers of Iraq in 2006 (will of the Prime Minister), calling upon a possible fall of the credibility of Romania on the foreign scene in the event of not held of his engagements.

Bad organization abroad

Even if with Paris several thousands of the people could vote with the embassy after a tail of one hour and half after midday, in Spain and Italy the number of points of vote were largely insufficient. On almost: 900000 people likely to vote who live in Spain, only approximately: 180000 ballot papers were distributed and only a few thousands of people could vote. With Rome, the queue was of two kilometers the evening with the embassy. The mobile points of vote which had been used at the time of the election the preceding ones in Spain and Italy were not in function for this referendum.

In Spain, the people who could not vote protested and broke the main door of the embassy. The Spanish police force was called for the aid and the demonstrators remained opposite the embassy until the moment when the results, largely favorable to the president, were announced. At this time they dispersed to celebrate the event (source: Antena3 and Realitatea TV).

In Republic of Moldavie, the tail was several hours in period of heat wave. The voters revolted against the bad organization, but forced themselves to make the tail to show that they want to make be worth their lately acquired Rumanian nationality and support the president. This one is well-known to have made go up the cause of the Bessarabia in the international authorities. With the Rumanian embassy of Chisinau, people started to stress slogans " One wants to vote! " , " One wants to vote! " (Rumanian: " Vrem its votam! " , " Vrem its votam! " ) when the official ones of the embassy made a pause of more than one hour at midday to eat.

Only the parties in power for the bad organization of the referendum are marked: " this coalition, formed of the 322 and the government, made all the possible abuses with regard to the organization of the référendum" declared Horia-Novel Patapievici in an interview with Evenimentul Zilei. In a point of important vote in Madrid, the representative of party PNL did not present himself, reducing the official personnel of monitoring to six people.

A participation in the vote in the average

The partial results give 44,04% of participation. However, at the time of the elections of 2004 which elected the president, there was only 58,5% of participation.

So that the president is relieved, more than 50% (9 million) of the voters with right to vote would have to approve its resignation, whereas only approximately 10% (2 million) voted " OUI" with the referendum.

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