Romanian President Set To Sign Referendum Decree Despite Parliament’s Opposition

„Nobody can stop me from signing the decree. I will still sign the decree, despite the parliament’s vote of approval or disapproval, or without any approval at all,” said Basescu, adding he will sign the decree for referendum when the right time comes.

He said the referendum needs 50% plus one of the votes to pass, but stressed he fears it might not pass on insufficient voters.

According to Basescu, opinion polls indicate that 70-80% of Romanians want fewer lawmakers and a single-chamber Parliament.

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The head of state also pointed out that lawmakers strongly fear the referendum might pass.

The committees for legal matters within the Romanian Parliament on Wednesday gave a vote of disapproval to Basescu’s letter on organizing a national referendum to downsize the Parliament to a single chamber and cut back on the number of lawmakers.

Committee members cast 18 to 12 votes to disapprove the head of state’s call for a referendum, citing legislative void in the referendum law.

Romania’s Senate on Tuesday rejected 73 to 40 votes a government emergency decree obliging Parliament to answer in 20 days the head of state’s request for a referendum.

Prime Minister Emil Boc’s government, which lost a confidence vote in Parliament Tuesday, passed an emergency decree three weeks ago to amend the referendum law, stating the Parliament has 20 days to respond to the president’s request for a referendum, otherwise the head of state has the right to issue the decree for referendum.

Basescu, who will seek reelection in November, requested the organization of a referendum, simultaneously with the presidential elections set for November 22, to downsize the country’s 471-seat Parliament to a single chamber and a maximum of 300 seats.