Romanian court confirms President’s suspension

BUCHAREST (AFP) – Romania’s constitutional court on Monday approved last week’s vote by lawmakers to suspend the country’s president, and appointed a member of the centre-left ruling coalition to replace him.

“The court notes that the procedure for the suspension from his duties of Romanian President Traian Basescu has been respected … and that the function of interim president will be assured by Crin Antonescu,” it ruled.

The court nevertheless ruled that a law passed by deputies that limited the court’s power to intervene in parliamentary decisions was unconstitutional.

But the court said that objections by the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (PDL) over the legality of last week’s sacking of the speakers of both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies were not admissible. Both positions were held by PDL members.

Most legal observers had anticipated this ruling for procedural reasons.

On Friday, 256 out of 432 deputies voted to impeach the centre-right Basescu over claims he improperly assumed the powers of the prime minister when he announced drastic austerity cuts in 2010.

The vote, and the court’s ruling, mean Basescu will be suspended at least until the public can vote on the issue in a referendum set for July 29.

Friday’s parliamentary vote followed a series of controversial moves by Romanian lawmakers, including the sacking of the ombudsman and the speakers of parliament.

The situation has provoked growing alarm from fellow EU members, the United States and rights groups.

The latest criticisms came from Germany earlier Monday, which condemned the impeachment proceedings as “unacceptable” and a violation of democratic principles.

“The suspension of Basescu on Friday and the initiation of a referendum took place in such a way that they violated the basic principles of the rule of law and, above all, respect for constitutional institutions,” German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement.