Romanians prepare for divisive referendum / Romanian President: ‘I survived a coup’

Romanian President Traian Basescu survived a referendum on his impeachment on the 29 July 2012 after the voter turnout fell short of the required level and derailed an effort by his political opponents to remove him from office.

However, exit polls showed more than 80% of those who cast their ballot voted to remove the president.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Romania president faces impeachment poll http://www.europeansources.info/record/romania-president-faces-impeachment-poll/

ESO: Background information: EU increases pressure on Bucharest / Romanian premier pledges U-turn on law http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-increases-pressure-on-bucharest-romanian-premier-pledges-u-turn-on-law/

EurActiv, 30.7.12: Romanian President survives poll on low turnout http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/romanian-president-survives-poll-news-514186

Jurnalul Naţional / România libera / Adevărul / Gandul.30.7.12: A referendum where everyone is a loser (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/press-review/2440461-referendum-where-everyone-loser

BBC News, 30.7.12: Romania's Basescu survives impeachment referendum http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19034173

Deutsche Welle, 30.7.12: Basescu survives impeachment vote http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16130587,00.html

Deutsche Welle, 30.7.12: Opinion: Romania needs a fresh start http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16130856,00.html

France24, 30.7.12: Romanian president survives referendum http://www.france24.com/en/20120730-romania-president-survives-impeachment-low-referendum-turnout-traian-basescu

Spiegel Online International, 30.7.12: Referendum Only a Battle in Ongoing War for Power http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/basescu-survives-referendum-in-romania-a-847178.html

EUObserver, 30.7.12: Romanian President: 'I survived a coup' http://euobserver.com/843/117094

EUObserver, 31.7.12: Analysis: Something is rotten in the state of Romania http://euobserver.com/843/117108

Spiegel Online International, 31.7.12: 'Romania's Fighters Moving on to Next Round' http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/german-editorials-say-referendum-damages-credibility-of-romania-a-847392.html

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