Romanian Government Adopts Legal Frame For Nov 22 Referendum

Romanian president Traian Basescu issued Thursday the decree organizing the referendum for a single-chamber Parliament and reducing the number of Parliament Members to at most 300, despite Parliament opposition.

Basescu said the decree contains two articles. The citizens are called to express their will, through „yes” or „no” in two questions, one regarding the single-chamber Parliament, and the other regarding the number of MPs, proposed to be reduced to 300 from the current 471.

He added he signed the decree since the Parliament’s approval, or in this case disapproval, is consultative.

The Parliament gave Basescu’s call for referendum a vote of disapproval, but the president is expected to issue a decree for its organization Thursday, as the Parliament’s opinion is just consultative.