Romania To Introduce Postal Voting - President

"Romanian diplomacy will continue to push for the liberalization of Romanian citizens' access to the European labor market and I am counting on the member states' cooperation. To support Romanians who choose to live temporarily or permanently abroad, we will try to introduce postal voting," said Basescu.

He also announced an increase in programs meant to "support and promote Romanian cultural, linguistic and spiritual integrity in order to strengthen the attachment of Romanians abroad to their home country and encourage them to get involved in its long-term development."

"At the same time, we will cooperate with our foreign partners to ensure fair treatment for Romanian nationals, without inappropriate generalizations, but rather by individual punishment of criminal acts in accordance with the law," Basescu said.

Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi said Tuesday that he wants the Law on postal voting to be adopted in 2011, so that it can enter force in 2012, an election year. Such a bill was put on public debate on December 28, having been drafted, according to Baconschi, with input from the Standing Electoral Authority and the Ministry of Interior, as well as a number of university professors or NGO experts and lawmakers.

The minister said authorities went to considerable lengths to open 294 voting stations for the elections of 2009, although, on average, a mere 5% of the members of the Romanian community abroad are able to turn out to vote.

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