Romania in Crisis

Romania's suspended president, Traian Basescu, meanwhile said on Friday he will not resign after parliament removed him for 30 days on charges of abusing his powers.

Basescu, who said earlier this week that he would resign if suspended, will now face a national impeachment referendum within a month.

Under the court ruling, the head of the senate, Social Democrat Nicolae Vacaroiu, is due to become interim president. The 63-year-old economist said he would speak to Basescu later Friday to fix a date for handing over power.

Basescu vows to fight

Basescu had said earlier that he would resign if lawmakers backed the suspension. He is accused of 19 constitutional violations, including "controlling through those close to him all state institutions, of interfering in the law and protecting the interests of the mafia in the Romanian economy."

On Thursday night Basescu addressed thousands of supporters in central Bucharest with a rallying cry: "We will see each other at the polls."

It was unclear however if he was referring to a required referendum on whether to impeach him, which must be held within 30 days, or a presidential election in three months, in which case he would resign.

"From Monday, when they will complete the formalities related to the suspension vote, I will still be the functioning president of Romania," Basescu told the crowd.

Several Romanian newspapers Friday pointed to Basescu's apparent "turnaround," with one editorial writer for Gandul saying he risked being branded "with shame" if he failed to follow through on his promise to resign.

Rivals get ready to act

The president's apparent hesitation could lead to a scenario where the government of arch-rival Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu would amend the electoral law to prevent a suspended president from standing again for office.

Tariceanu, whose National Liberal Party voted for the suspension, has commented that the suspended president "no longer has the moral right to run as a candidate."

At the same time Tariceanu has sought to reassure the EU and the business community that the institutions of government were functioning, and that "Romania is strongly determined to meet its commitments and to follow through with its reforms."

In comments made in Brussels, EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini stressed the importance of Romania reforming its judicial system and fighting corruption.

He also reminded Bucharest that in June the European Commission will report on Romania's progress since joining the bloc on Jan.1 this year.