Reuters Photojournalism
Our day's top images, in-depth photo essays and offbeat slices of life. See the best of Reuters photography. See more
Sponsored Links
U.S. envoy to discuss democracy concerns with Romania
BUCHAREST |
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - A U.S. envoy will meet Romanian government officials in Bucharest on Sunday to discuss concerns about democracy in the country, the U.S. State department said, after attempts by the prime minister to oust the president.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta's drive to force out President Traian Basescu has been condemned by the European Union and United States, which say his cabinet is undermining the rule of law.
The row has stalled policymaking in Romania, delayed vital economic reforms and raised concerns over the Balkan state's International Monetary Fund-led aid deal.
Ponta's leftist Social Liberal Union (USL), backed by parliament, has suspended the right-wing president, accusing him of abusing his position to block government legislation.
A July 29 referendum on whether to impeach Basescu won 88 percent support but turnout was below the 50 percent threshold required by the Constitutional Court to validate the vote.
Ahead of the referendum, Ponta's government had sought to trim the court's powers and threatened to replace judges before international pressure forced it to back down and accept the court's ruling on the minimum turnout.
The court was expected to rule on the validity of the referendum earlier this month. But it postponed the decision until August 31 after USL officials said Romania's electorate was smaller than the figure used to calculate the referendum turnout and that, using the new figure, the turnout did pass the threshold.
"Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip H. Gordon ... will meet with senior government officials to discuss the concerns the United States has regarding recent government actions that threaten democratic checks and balances and weaken independent institutions," the State Department said in a statement on Friday.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in a letter to Ponta on Friday that the government had reneged on a commitment to protect democracy and the rule of law, citing delays in the ruling on the referendum.
The government said the Commission had incomplete information, saying it was the Constitutional Court who set the August 31 deadline to see updated voter lists, and reiterated its commitment to abide by any court ruling.
(Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Pravin Char)
- Tweet this
- Link this
- Share this
- Digg this
- Reprints
This article is very wrong because MRS Ilie forgets to write about the fact that the Romanian Attourney general has invented a new crime> instigation to vote. It is very wrong because while Mrs Ilie uses her influence on Reuters to please president Basescu’s supporters, some Romanian models were brought in for questioning to the police because they voted at the referendum. This article is very wrong because it does not say that in Romania the Constitutional Court is a political establishment, and the majority of its members were appointed in office by Basescu and that they are politicians not judges. Last but not least, this article does not mention that three Constitutional Court members asked for a meeting because they weren’t consulted in some decisions made pe the Court.
It is very dissapointing that a brand like Reuters can be spoiled by such journalists like Ilie.
According to the 2011 Census, the total population of Romania is 19,042,936.
15.6% of Population is under 14 = 2,970,698
An Estimated 3.3% Pop. 14-18 = 636,578.
Total calculated Maximum Electorate size = 15,435,660
The registered Electoral lists that are the subject of questioning record an electorate of 18,292,464.
There would appear to be an additional 2.85 million registered voters over and above the Total population recorded in 2011.
The votes recorded in the Referendum to impeach the President amounted to 8,459,053 providing a clear cut approval of the Impeachment of the President.
The democratic issue should be clear – The majority of the Romanian people clearly voted by 88.7% to impeach the President.
The writer has no opinion on the merits or otherwise of the Political scene in Romania, and is merely interested in the accuracy of data used in the process.
Given that the Suspended President is willing to accept a fictitious electorate size in his attempts to overturn the Democratic decision of the Romanian People, it should be clear to World leaders that Romania’s Government is clearly abiding by Democratic procedures
Follow Reuters