Brussels, 25/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Romanian Conservative opposition, which backs President Traian Basescu, issued a call to its supporters on Tuesday 24 July not to go out and vote in the referendum, due to take place on Sunday 29 July, on whether the head of state should be removed from office, Reuters reports. Following criticism from the EU, Prime Minister Victor Ponta pledged to abide by the decision of the constitutional court which has declared that, for the result of the referendum to be valid, there must be at least a 50% turn-out. The Basescu supporters argue that, if those who back the president do not vote, this could provide him with an opportunity to stay in power, Reuters goes on. The constitutional court put something of a spoke in the wheel of this move by authorising a government measure to keep the polls open for four more hours in order to allow people every opportunity to go out and vote. “Our supporters cannot approve such a succession of abuses and illegal acts”, said Vasile Blaga, leader of the Democratic Liberal Party (PD-L), which backs Basescu. “We call on Romanian citizens not to take part in a sham such as this.” On Saturday, Basescu himself called on his supporters to vote against what he called a “coup d'état”.
At a press conference on Wednesday, European Justice and Fundamental Rights Commissioner Viviane Reding again expressed the deep concern she shares with the Commission at the state of democracy in Romania. “We will look at the laws and how they are implemented, not letters”, she said, alluding to the written pledges made by Ponta to Commission President José Manuel Barroso on 16 July. (SP/transl.rt)