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| Traian Basescu: Romanian impeachment vote ruled invalid | Traian Basescu: Romanian impeachment vote ruled invalid |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Romania's top court has ruled that a referendum on the impeachment of President Traian Basescu was invalid, because turnout failed to reach 50%. | Romania's top court has ruled that a referendum on the impeachment of President Traian Basescu was invalid, because turnout failed to reach 50%. |
| The decision thwarts efforts by Prime Minister Victor Ponta to oust Mr Basescu, a bitter rival. | The decision thwarts efforts by Prime Minister Victor Ponta to oust Mr Basescu, a bitter rival. |
| It means Mr Basescu, who was suspended from his post pending the referendum, can now return to the presidency. | It means Mr Basescu, who was suspended from his post pending the referendum, can now return to the presidency. |
| In the 29 July referendum, more than 87% voted for impeachment - but only 46% of registered voters took part. | |
| The rivalry between the Mr Ponta and Mr Basescu reached a stand-off after the former accused the president of obstructing government policies and starting a witch hunt against politicians from rival political parties. | |
| But, ahead of the Constitutional Court's verdict on Tuesday, Mr Ponta said: "If six (judges) decide to declare the referendum invalid... then Basescu returns to his post." | |
| The chief judge of the court, Augustin Zegrean, confirmed that the ruling against the referendum was passed "with a legal majority of 6-3". | |
| A former oil tanker captain, Mr Basescu, who has been president since 2004, has accused the centre-left coalition led by Mr Ponta of trying to take over control of independent institutions in Romania. | |
| The centre-right president's popularity has fallen since he introduced a programme of wage cuts and tax increases as part of two deals with the International Monetary Fund in 2009 and 2011. |