Parliament says Romanian president violates constitution

Romanian President Traian Basescu has violated the constitution and the suspension procedures launched by the parliament oppositions are thus justified, the Parliamentary Inquiry Commission said on Wednesday afternoon.

"Traian Basescu has violated Romania's Constitution," said Dan Voiculescu, chairman of the parliamentary committee set up to inquire into the alleged misdeeds of the head of state.

Basescu was even involved in "criminal offenses," stressed Voiculescu. "Since the criminal aspects is not the competence of the committee, all that has to do with the criminal aspects of the president's misdeeds will be included in a separate file and submitted to the General Prosecution Office," Voiculescu added.

According to the conclusions of the committee, the president has adopted a politically biased attitude and thus abandoned his role as state mediator. He has willingly high-jacked the wish of the electorate by designating a prime minister without taking into account the outcome of the general election, brutally interfered with Parliament's activities, the conclusions said.

Moreover, they charged that the president has contributed to the creation of a climate of political instability and acted to generate an artificial crisis, seriously damaged the reputation of public institutions by calling Parliament a clique in clinical death and Government an institution subservient to vested interests.

The committee's report unveiled on Wednesday comprises a seven- page synthesis and an appendix of over 700 two-side pages. It will be turned in to the standing committees of Parliament.

The parliament decided on Feb. 28 to set up the inquiry commission into the alleged misdeeds of the president. The decision was adopted with 258 votes in favor, 76 against and 21 abstentions.

Early in January, the main opposition Social Democratic Party ( PSD) announced they were to launch the suspension procedures against the head of state, whom they accuse of "repeated Constitution breaking." The opposition Conservative Party and the Greater Romania Party have joined the PSD in calling for the impeachment.

PSD leader Mircea Geoana said that the request filed 25 charges against Basescu. The charges include that Basescu misled the 2004 election, blocked two plenary sessions of the parliament and violated the principle of the separation of powers.