Romanian court clears new law on impeachment vote

BUCHAREST, May 3 (Reuters) Romania's Constitutional Court today cleared a change in the law, brought in by opposition politicians to make it easier to impeach suspended President Traian Basescu in a referendum on May 19.

Parliament suspended the reformist president in April after months of disputes among the ruling centrists and the leftist opposition, in a vote which analysts said signalled a growing reluctance among deputies to carry out anti-corruption reforms.

Surveys show that Basescu is likely to win the referendum and return to office, but the changes to the law brought in by opposition deputies make it easier to impeach a head of state.

Under the new law, Romanians can vote to impeach a president even if less than half the electorate takes part in the referendum.

Previously a 50 percent turnout was needed.

''The law modification is constitutional,'' the court said in a statement, rejecting an appeal from the opposition Democrat party linked to Basescu.

Many of Romania's ruling centrists and the ex-communist opposition accuse Basescu of usurping power beyond his constitutional mandate, fomenting political instability and acting on behalf of interest groups.

Political observers say his suspension is the result of power struggles among politicians, while the European Union, which Romania joined in January, has expressed concern that the process may slow down reforms of the judicial system.

Basescu has said attacks on him were aimed at slowing down the process of uncovering networks of corrupt politicians, wealthy businessmen and communist-era secret police agents who still wield some power in Romania.

Reuters RS DB2144