European court puts Romania referendum decision on hold

Romania’s Constitutional Court delayed a decision on the validity of a referendum on impeaching the president until September, the court said yesterday, an unexpected twist that is likely to deepen Romania’s 
political crisis.

The European Union has criticised prime minister Victor Ponta’s tactics in trying to ensure the centre-right president 
Traian Basescu was removed from office and demanded the government respect Constitutional Court decisions.

The row between Mr Ponta and Mr Basescu has delayed policymaking and raised doubts over Romania’s International Monetary Fund-led aid deal, sending its currency to record lows.

Official data showed voter turnout at Sunday’s referendum did not reach a required 50 per cent level and the decision on Mr Basescu’s impeachment was delayed until 12 September.

Final results showed 88 per cent of those who voted wanted Mr Basescu, unpopular for his links with austerity and perceptions of cronyism, removed from office.

“If you’re asking me, the referendum should have been annulled,” Constitutional Court judge Aspazia Cojocaru told reporters outside the court. “Everything was based on fake data.”