The referendum called by the President, analyzed by Parliament

Parliament will meet on Monday for scheduling to follow if the referendum called by President Traian Basescu regarding the unicameral Parliament with a maximum of 300 members.

Parliament's point of view about the referendum called for the head of State will be given as quickly as possible-the Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies, Valeriu Zgonea, announced.

Therefore, permanent Offices of the two Chambers will request the legal Committee meeting preparing a report on President Traian Basescu's request, which will be discussed in the common, most likely Tuesday or Wednesday.

Valeriu Zgonea stated that Romania's President is the only one who can convene a referendum on matters of national interest, but Parliament's opinion is advisory and can be given only through a draft judgment plenary debated and voted.

After the opinion of the legislature, the President has 30 days to notify the Government about the date of the referendum.

President Traian Basescu announced earlier in the week that he had sent letters to the Parliament concerning the triggering procedure of convening the referendum through which Romanians will be asked whether they want it or not a unicameral Parliament with 330 elected.

President Traian Basescu reiterates that he is determined to trigger the referendum for a unicameral Parliament with 300 elected, if the new Constitution will not reflect the outcome of the popular consultation of 2009, when 51 percent of the voting population has voted for this purpose.

In a broadcast on PRO TV, the President has referred inter alia to the regionalization, the agreement with the International Monetary Fund and the accession to the Schengen area.

Translated by
Denisse-Meda Bucura