President of Romania

President of Romania Preşedintele României
Standard of the President of Romania
Incumbent Traian Băsescu since 20 December 2004
Residence	Cotroceni Palace
Appointer	Popular vote
Term length	Five years renewable once
Inaugural holder	Ion Iliescu 20 May 1990
Formation	Constitution of Romania
Salary	1,800 euros per month[1]
Website	Preşedintele României

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The President of Romania is the head of state of Romania. The President is directly elected by a two-round system for a five-year term (since 2004, after the Constitution was modified in 2003). An individual may serve two terms. During his/her term in office, the President may not be a member of any political party. The President of Romania names the Prime Minister after consulting the political parties in the Parliament; if his proposal is turned down by the Parliament twice in 60 days, the President can dissolve the Parliament and call for early elections, unless he is in the final 6 months of his term. The President only names the Prime Minister and cannot dismiss him from office, but can refuse naming of members of the cabinet once.

The current President of Romania is Traian Băsescu, since 20 December 2004. On 20 April 2007 he was suspended. He re-assumed the office on 23 May 2007 after the Referendum held on 19 May 2007. He was re-elected on 6 December 2009 for a second 5-year term that started on 21 December 2009, and suspended again on 6 July 2012, with President of the Senate Crin Antonescu assuming acting presidency. The referendum on Traian Basescu's dismissal was held on 29 July, but declared invalid by the Constitutional Court.^[2]

Oath of office

After the Constitutional Court acknowledges the legality of the election, the Houses of Parliament meet in a joint session. The elected President takes the following oath of office, specified by article 82 of the Constitution:

Romanian: Jur să-mi dăruiesc toată puterea şi priceperea pentru propăşirea spirituală şi materială a poporului român, să respect Constituţia şi legile ţării, să apăr democraţia, drepturile şi libertăţile fundamentale ale cetăţenilor, suveranitatea, independenţa, unitatea şi integritatea teritorială a României. Aşa să-mi ajute Dumnezeu!

English: I solemnly swear that I will dedicate all my strength and the best of my ability for the spiritual and material welfare of the Romanian people, to abide by the Constitution and laws of the country, to defend democracy, the fundamental rights and freedoms of my fellow-citizens, Romania's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity. So help me God! ^[3]

Impeachment

An incumbent President who severely violates the Constitution may be suspended by the Parliament in joint session. If the suspension motion passes, there is a call for a referendum of impeachment within no more than 30 days from the suspension.

If the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, in joint session, accuse the President of high treason, the President is suspended from powers and duties by right. The accusations are judged by the High Court of Cassation and Justice. The incumbent President is dismissed by right if found guilty of high treason.

History

The suspension/impeachment procedure was started three times. The first time against Ion Iliescu, following a statement regarding the returning of the illegally confiscated properties during the communist regime to the rightful owners. This first attempt in 1995 did not pass the Parliament vote.

The first President to be suspended was Traian Băsescu, in April 2007. The impeachment referendum was held in 19 May 2007, and the result was the rejection of the proposal by 24.94% YES to 75.06% NO.

The second successful suspension was in July 2012, again, against Traian Băsescu. The referendum was held on 29 July 2012, the results being 88.7% YES and 11.3% NO, with voter turnout calculated at that time to be 46.24%, below the 50% + 1 vote threshold required at the time the referendum. The Constitutional Court did not give a verdict on the validation of the referendum at the time, citing irregularities in the permanent electoral lists. On 21 August, the Court deemed the referendum invalid.^[2]

Succession

Should the office of the President become vacant due to resignation, impeachment, permanent inability to perform the duties of office, or death,^[4] the President of the Senate or the President of the Chamber of Deputies, in that order, step in as Ad Interim President of Romania^[5] (Romanian: Preşedinte Interimar al României). Neither relinquish their position as President of their respective Legislative House for the duration of the Ad Interim term. An Ad Interim President cannot address the Parliament, dissolve the Parliament, nor call for a referendum (the impeachment referendum after a motion of suspension is called by Parliament). The vacancy of the office cannot be longer than three months.^[6] The office vacancy cannot be longer than 30 days (while the President is suspended the office is not considered vacant).

List of Presidents

Latest election

See also

• List of heads of state of Romania
• List of Presidents of Romania by time in office
• Prime Minister of Romania

References

External links

• Official site of the Romanian presidency

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