The referendum "will cost 95 million lei"

On Saturday, the Government adopted a series of decisions, for establishing of the measures necessary to the Organization Presidential Impeachment referendum.

Popular consultation will cost about 95 million lei, according to the estimates of the Executive.

Ponta Cabinet members decided that to ensure the election security, the needed materials will be made by the institutions of the State.

“Having regard to the need of taking special security measures for the printing ballots, the making of the "voted" stamps and stickers, it was established that the stamps with the words “voted” for all precincts, including those from the outside, will be ensured by the Ministry of Administration and Interior through the Autonomous Administration of State Mint, the stamps by National Printing House Company and the printing of ballots will be ensured by the Ministry, through the Official Gazette of the Autonomous Administration ”, said the Minister-delegate to the Management Board, Victor Paul Dobre, quoted by reporter.

There have the right to participate in the vote all Romanian citizens that have reached the age of 18.

Judges of the High Court involved in this process will be elected on Sunday by drawing lots, and political parties must designate their representatives until 10 July in the Central Electoral Bureau and in other bureaus.

For the polling stations, at the level of the localities will be used to a large extent, the materials used at the local general elections.

At the referendum Romanians from abroad will be able to vote.

The vote on the referendum of President Traian Băsescu dismissal, scheduled for July 29, will start at 08.00 and it will be stopped at 20.00.

The electoral campaign for the referendum of President’s dismissal will end on July 28, at 7 o'clock, noted the Minister-delegate for Administration, Victor Paul Dobre.

President Traian Băsescu was suspended Friday night after the Parliament passed the request submitted by USL.

The President has referred the matter to the Constitutional Court

As soon as the outcome of a vote in Parliament was found, President Traian Băsescu said he referred the matter to the Constitutional Court.

“I have referred the matter to the Constitutional Court to exhaust all remedies against abuse, as in 2007”, President Traian Băsescu said.

“But to be very clear: I want to appear such as Chairman, not related to the President”.

“We will go to the referendum and will have the chance to explain to the people my decisions taken during my term of Office”, Traian Băsescu said.

At the referendum, the Chairman may be dismissed with 50 per cent plus one of the votes of those who submit to the inspection, after the Government has adopted an Ordinance on Thursday evening.

The participants in the referendum will likely decide by "yes" or "no" to the following question:
“Do you agree to the dismissal of the President of Romania?”

Until the referendum, the Office of President is taken over interim by the President of the Senate.

What is interim President powers?

There are three things that the Constitution of Romania do not allow the President ad interim.

He is not entitled to address Parliament messages concerning the nation's main political issues.

He cannot dissolve Parliament, nor does it have the right to call the Organization of a referendum.

Interim President represents the Romanian State and is the guarantor of national independence, of the unity and the territorial integrity of the country.

He has exactly the same duties on foreign policy and in that of defence.


Translated by Anamaria Petrache
MTTLC, Bucharest University