Romanian opposition to boycott presidential impeachment referendum

Newsroom 24/07/2012 | 15:20

The Liberal Democratic Party (PD-L) urges its members and supporters not to participate in the July 29 referendum in order to invalidate the impeachment vote and help suspended President Basescu return to office.

The PD-L President, Vasile Blaga, said the party will keep its representatives in the polling stations to prevent any potential fraud. He pointed out to the Government’s decision of setting up polling stations in restaurants and hotels and the lack of a clear mechanism that limits multiple voting. The absence of surveillance cameras in the stations is another point of concern for the opposition party.

PM Ponta called PD-L’s decision the “most anti-democratically” one in the last 22 years and said it will sent a letter to the presidents of the European Commission and the European parliament, as well as to the European parliamentary groups to inform them about the opposition’s intentions.

Blaga said he is not trying to convince the suspended president to promote the boycott. President Basescu said in the initial stages of the campaign that Romanians should go to vote in the referendum. However, he seems to have changed his mind in the recent days.

“It is obvious that they are preparing the embezzlement of the referendum. So why should I ask those who are outraged and don’t want to validate the coup to vote,” said the suspended president on Monday, in a broadcasted appearance. He added that 700,000 Romanians are planning to boycott the vote, according to a survey.