BUCHAREST, March 31. /ITAR-TASS/. Romanian President Traian Basescu will face trial when he leaves his post and is deprived of immunity. Prime Minister Victor Ponta said it in an interview with Romanian television.
"There are many cases waiting for Basescu’s immunity to be over," Ponta said.
He recalled that in the EU there have already been cases of former presidents standing trial after the expiry of the mandate, and no one considered it to be a political repression. The Prime Minister also complained that Basescu hinders the government from working. The first time Basescu was elected as a president in 2004, but three years later the parliament impeached him, accusing the president of "abuse of power". Citizens voted against his quit in a referendum. However, in 2012 87% of the ruling coalition initiated plebiscite and supported Basescu's impeachment. The voting was invalid because the turnout was only 46% at the required 50%.
Ponta signed an agreement with Basescu under the US and the EU pressure after losing the December elections. The document declares to unite efforts to integrate into the European Community and NATO and not to dismiss Basescu. Despite this, the relationship between the president and the government remains tense.