Sensational in Romania: the conservative president Traian Basescu, contested by popular acclaim, managed to avoid the dismissal, desired by the center-left government majority and on which the population was called to express itself in yesterday's referendum. In fact, the consultation was found to be invalid as there was no turnout of at least 50% of those entitled, as required by law. As reported in an initial official estimate by the electoral commission, 45,92% of the slightly more than 18 million voters voted. It was President Basescu himself who declared the referendum failed, immediately after the polls closed at 23pm local time (22pm in Italy).
“Romanians have rejected the coup attempt organized by 256 parliamentarians led by Victor Ponta and Crin Antonescu” (respectively prime minister and interim president, ed.)," Basescu said. "I want to thank those who have moved beyond anger at the austerity measures taken by the government and have not voted in this referendum, showing that they understand that the moment is delicate," he added. The president had called on Romanians to boycott the consultation, unlike Social Democrat Prime Minister Victor Ponta and the centre-left majority, who had done everything to encourage turnout.
