Parliament approves amendment on referendum repetition on abstention grounds

The Parliament approved on Wednesday a proposal by the opposition Social Democrats that would allow the referendum for the suspension of the President be repeated in case not enough people show up to vote.

If so happens in the May 19 referendum on the suspension of President Traian Basescu, a new 30-day deadline for a new referendum will be set and Basescu’s suspension would be prolonged automatically.

According to the PSD amendment, if less than 50%+one of Romanian legal voters show up at the referendum and if the Constitutional Court decides that this is a good reason for a repetition of the referendum, than the referendum campaign and vote will take place all over again.

The amendment was passed with 237 votes in favor, 19 against and 17 abstentions.