Romanian parliament suspends President Basescu

By Justyna Pawlak

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania's parliament suspended President Traian Basescu on Thursday on charges of abuse of his powers, plunging the new European Union member deeper into political crisis.

The move opens the way for possible presidential elections within three months and could make it difficult for Romania to meet EU requirements on structural reforms and prepare to absorb billions of euros in EU aid.

It follows months of jostling for power among the ruling centrists who include Basescu, as well as efforts by the leftist opposition PSD party to regain power.

"Traian Basescu is a political project that failed. He is incapable of pushing the country forward," said Mircea Geoana, head of the PSD which proposed the suspension.

The decision, passed in a vote of 322 deputies to 108, should lead to a referendum on Basescu's impeachment within 30 days although he said this week he would resign if suspended.

Widely praised by Western observers for his staunch pro-reform stance, Basescu is Romania's most popular politician.

Opinion polls show he is backed by some 50 percent of Romanians, mostly due to his support for anti-corruption reforms and straight-talking attitude.

But he has faced numerous accusations of corruption and involvement in secret-police activity from the ruling centrists as well as the opposition in recent months.