Basescu May Quit If Parliament Suspends Him

Romanias President Traian Basescu said on Thursday he may resign if parliament suspends him on charges of unconstitutional behaviour.

Romania's President Traian Basescu said on Thursday he may resign if parliament suspends him on charges of unconstitutional behaviour, a move that would trigger a snap election he is likely to win.

A parliament commission, backed by the leftist opposition Social Democrats (PSD), has accused Basescu, Romania's most popular politician, of fomenting instability in the new EU member, spying on politicians and pressuring the judiciary.

"After the potential suspension vote those who generated this abuse must be brought before voters. Immediately after this vote, only my resignation will put us before the voters," Basescu was quoted as saying by TV station Realitatea.

Basescu, who was elected in 2004, would be likely to win a new five-yaer mandate in any snap presidential election.

If a vote to suspend him succeeds Romania would have to hold a referendum on impeaching Basescu within 30 days. The president warned this risked damaging the reputation of the legislative.

"An impeachment referendum means an electoral confrontation between myself and parliament ... the institution of parliament needs to be protected. The parliament must not be put at risk of being defeated by the Romanian people," Basescu said.

The comments were exerpts from a newspaper interview to be published on Friday and carried by Realitatea TV in advance.

The Constitutional Court said last week there were no grounds for suspension proceedings against Basescu and recommended parliament cancel them.

The PSD, which hopes to regain power after losing elections in 2004 following a wave of corruption scandals, vowed to try to schedule a suspension vote anyway.

Since winning power in 2004, Basescu has drawn international praise for giving strong support to the government's efforts to fight graft and for preparing Romania to enter the wealthy bloc.

But he has become embroiled in a clash with Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu who has ousted some of his Democrat coalition allies, forming a minority cabinet last week with backing from the PSD, a move likely to slow down EU reforms.