Traian Băsescu
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{{Infobox President
| name = Traian Băsescu
| image = TraianBasescu.jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| caption =
| order = [[President of Romania]]
| primeminister = [[Eugen Bejinariu]]<br>[[Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu]]
| vicepresident =
| term_start = [[23 May]] [[2007]]
| term_end =
| predecessor = [[Nicolae Văcăroiu]] <small>(Acting)</small>
| successor =
| primeminister2 = [[Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu]]
| vicepresident2 =
| term_start2 = [[20 December]] [[2004]]
| term_end2 = [[20 April]] [[2007]]
| predecessor2 = [[Ion Iliescu]]
| successor2 = [[Nicolae Văcăroiu]] <small>(Acting)</small>
| order3 = Mayor of [[Bucharest]]
| term_start3 = [[26 June]] [[2000]]
| term_end3 = [[20 December]] [[2004]]
| predecessor3 = [[Viorel Lis]]
| successor3 = [[Adriean Videanu]]
| order4 = [[Ministry of Transport, Constructions and Tourism (Romania)|Minister of Transport]]
| term_start4 = [[28 June]] [[1990]]
| term_end4 = 2000
| primeminister4 = [[Petre Roman]]<br>[[Theodor Stolojan]]<br>[[Victor Ciorbea]]<br>[[Radu Vasile]]<br>[[Mugur Isărescu]]
| predecessor4 = [[Aurel Novac]]<br>[[Anton Ionescu]]
| successor4 = [[Aurel Novac]]<br>[[Anton Ionescu]]<br>[[Anca Boagiu]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|11|04|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Murfatlar]], [[Constanţa County|Constanţa]], [[Romania]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| spouse = Maria Băsescu
| profession = [[Merchant navy]]
| religion = [[Romanian Orthodox]]
}}
'''Traian Băsescu''' (born [[November 4]] [[1951]]) is a [[Romania]]n politician and former [[Merchant Navy]] officer. He is the current [[President of Romania]], inaugurated on [[December 20]] [[2004]]. He won the office in the [[Romanian presidential election, 2004|2004 presidential election]]. Prior to becoming President, he was the [[Mayor of Bucharest]] from June 2000 until December 2004.
On [[April 19]], [[2007]] the [[Parliament of Romania|Romanian Parliament]] suspended Băsescu.<ref name=Suspend> ''[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/.stm "Romania's MPs suspend president"]'' "[[BBC News]]'', [[April 19]], [[2007]]</ref> As the [[Constitutional Court of Romania]] acknowledged the Parliament's vote on [[20 April]] [[2007]],<ref>[http://english.people.com.cn//20/eng20070420_.html "Romanian Constitutional Court confirms suspension of president from post"], ''[[Xinhua News Agency|Xinhua]]'', [[April 20]], [[2007]]</ref> Băsescu remained suspended as president until [[Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, 2007|a referendum]] which took place on [[May 19]], [[2007]] confirmed that the impeachment should not stand. Băsescu is the first president in the history of Romania who has been officially suspended.
==Family background==
Băsescu was born in [[Murfatlar]], a village (later a small town) near [[Constanţa]], the largest Romanian port on the [[Black Sea]]. Băsescu's father was an army officer named Dumitru (d. 2002); his mother is Elena (b. 1928). He has a brother, Mircea (b. 1953). He and his wife Maria have two daughters, Ioana and Elena. Ioana has a son named Andrei.
==Career==
===Commercial ship captain===
Băsescu graduated from the [[Mircea cel Bătrân Naval Academy|Naval Institute]] of Constanţa in 1976 and became a Merchant Marine Officer at ''Navrom'', the Romanian state-owned shipping company. Between 1981 and 1987 he worked as Captain on Romanian commercial ships, and in 1984 he was promoted to Captain of the [[oil tanker]] ''[[Biruinţa]]'', the largest ship of the Romanian fleet. In 1989, he moved to Belgium to head the Navrom Agency in [[Antwerp]].
===Political career===
Băsescu was a member of the pre-1989 [[Romanian Communist Party|Communist Party]] (PCR). After the [[Romanian Revolution of 1989|downfall of Communism]], he claimed that he joined the PCR in order to promote his career in the [http://fmc.anmb.ro merchant marine].
Traian Băsescu entered politics after the [[Romanian Revolution of 1989|1989 Romanian Revolution]], as a member of the large [[National Salvation Front]] (FSN) party. In April 1991, he became [[Ministry of Transport, Constructions and Tourism (Romania)|Minister of Transport]] in [[Petre Roman]]'s Cabinet, and continued to hold this position during [[Theodor Stolojan]]'s "Cabinet of technocrats" in September 1991 - November 1992. In 1992, after the FSN split in two factions—the [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party of Romania]] (PDSR, later PSD), led by [[Ion Iliescu]], and the [[Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic Party]] (PD), led by [[Petre Roman]], Băsescu joined the PD faction. In 1992, he was elected to the lower house of the Romanian Parliament, the [[Chamber of Deputies of Romania|Chamber of Deputies]], and re-elected for the 1996-2000 term.
Concurrently with his second term in Parliament, from November 1996 to June 2000, Băsescu also served as Minister of Transport in the center-right governments of [[Victor Ciorbea]], [[Radu Vasile]], and [[Mugur Isărescu]].
In December 1997, he gave an interview to Claudiu Săftoiu (who was later to be appointed director of the [[Serviciul de Informaţii Externe|Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service]] by Băsescu)<ref>Cotidianul:[http://www.cotidianul.ro/index.php?id=7166&art=18077&cHash=77ebd9b866 FSN preia Serviciile Secrete]</ref> of the newspaper ''[[Evenimentul Zilei]]'', in which he accused [[Victor Ciorbea]] (prime minister at that time) of not implementing enough reforms, although Ciorbea was accused by the opposition of being excessively reformist. It would be the first episode in an open dispute within the ruling coalition, a dispute that eventually led to Democratic Party ministers, including Băsescu, resigning from the cabinet, which, in turn, led to Ciorbea's resignation. Subsequently (1998), Băsescu resumed his previous ministerial position in the new cabinet headed by [[Radu Vasile]].
In 2001, he was elected president of the [[Democratic Party (Romania)|PD]], defeating [[Petre Roman]], who had previously led the party for nine years. In 2003, Băsescu negotiated an electoral alliance for the [[Democratic Party (Romania)|PD]] with the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] (PNL) in order to create a cohesive mainstream center-right political opposition against the then-ruling [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]]. The new pact, called the [[Justice and Truth Alliance]] (Alianţa DA), ran common candidates in local and national elections, and agreed to vote as a bloc in Parliament. As president of [[Democratic Party (Romania)|PD]], he became co-chairman of the [[Justice and Truth Alliance|DA alliance]] alongside the then [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]] president Theodor Stolojan. In 2003 Stolojan, who was the Justice and Truth candidate for president in 2004, stepped down as [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]] president and [[Justice and Truth|DA]] co-chairman, being replaced by [[Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu]]. Although Stolojan announced to have withdrawn because of health concerns, Băsescu claimed to the press that the reason behind this decision was blackmail from political opponents (Stolojan did not confirm this and it was never proven).<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/romanian/news/story/2004/10/041003_basescu.shtml BBC interview]</ref> During these events, Traian Băsescu appeared to stand as a firm supporter of Stolojan, and replaced him as Justice and Truth's presidential candidate.
{{Politics of Romania}}
===Mayor of Bucharest===
In 2000, Băsescu was elected [[List of mayors of Bucharest|Mayor]] of [[Bucharest]], winning the run-off against [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PDSR]] candidate [[Sorin Oprescu]] by a very slim margin (50.69% to 49.31%), despite trailing 24% behind him in the first round. As Mayor, he was credited with a reduction in the number of stray dogs (although he sometimes used very drastic measures such as large-scale euthanasia) roaming freely through the streets of the city from approximately 200,000–300,000 in 2000 to 25,000 in 2004, and thus in the number of dog bite injuries from 1500/month to under 200/month.<ref>source : The Administration for Animal Control (ASA) of the Mayor's Office of Bucharest, 2003</ref>
Despite the fact that some Romanian and foreign animal protection activists protested large-scale euthanasia, the inhabitants of the city generally welcomed the measure, since the atmosphere in the city became more secure, and cases of child attacks by stray dogs dwindled.{{Or|date=September 2007}} This campaign was at any rate controversial, as many [[animal love]]rs opposed dog euthanasia,<ref>Formula-As,[http://www.formula-as.ro/reviste_451__122__.html ''Scrisori adresate primarului general al Capitalei'' ("Letters Addressed to the General Mayor of Bucharest")]</ref> to which at one time Băsescu answered:<br>
"We will not take any dog's life!"<ref>Formula-As, [http://www.formula-as.ro/reviste_424__122__-traianbasescuprimarul-general-al-capitalei...-.html Traian Băsescu: ''De la nivelul Primăriei nu se va da niciodata dispoziţie să se omoare cainii'' ("The City Hall Will Never Have the Stray Dogs Killed")]</ref> Băsescu was also accused of sometimes just moving the dogs from the center to the periphery.<ref>Formula-As,[http://www.formula-as.ro/reviste_424__122__-traianbasescuprimarul-general-al-capitalei...-.html Traian Băsescu: ''De la nivelul Primăriei nu se va da niciodata dispoziţie să se omoare cainii'' ("The City Hall Will Never Have the Stray Dogs Killed")]</ref> On the other hand, there were also numerous cases of people asking the authorities to take the stray dogs away, but after this was done, their neighbors, who had been feeding the dogs, would show up at the shelter to take them back to their neighborhoods.<ref>Observator, [http://www.observator.info/arhiva/2004/ianuarie/14%20ianuarie/obs.html], January 20, 2004</ref> In 2004, Băsescu presented the situation as a success. On January 29, 2006, a Japanese tourist was killed by a stray dog.<ref>Gardianul, [http://www.gardianul.ro/2006/01/30/linia_fierbinte-c5/un_japonez_a_murit_in_capitala_muscat_de_un_caine_vagabond-s73350.html ''Un japonez a murit în capitală muşcat de un câine vagabond'' ("A Japanese Died in Bucharest after Being Bitten by a Stray Dog")], January 30, 2006</ref> The campaign was highly ineffective, only 47.000 dogs being put down. <ref>[http://blog.acasa.ro/ariciul/2007-03-04/131238/Cainii-vagabonzi,-problema-si-solutii---.html Cainii vagabonzi, problema si solutii... - Despre toate<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Băsescu also presented as successful the improvements to the water and lighting systems, which prior to that were in a very bad state;<ref>[http://www.pmb.ro Bucharest's Mayor's Office] - Improvement of water and light</ref> as well as the modernisation of public transportation in the city. His tenure was however marked by constant conflicts with the governing [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]]-controlled institutions. Citing the need for decentralisation, the central government led by [[Adrian Năstase]] passed several [[law|ordinance]]s transferring powers from the city Mayor to city [[Sectors of Bucharest|sectors]] and to the city [[General Council of Bucharest|council]]. Băsescu accused council members of corruption and obstruction; he also successfully challenged several council resolutions in Administrative Courts. As a consequence, on 10 January 2002, the central government decided to dissolve the council, yet it annulled that decision later on. These conflicts led to the blocking or delay of several infrastructure loans, financed by [[European Investment Bank|BEI]], for municipal heating and road networks, and generally for blocking city's ability to borrow and finance reconstruction.{{Or|date=September 2007}}
In 2004, Băsescu was elected for a second term in office, winning 54.9% of the votes directly in the first round; the runner-up, [[Mircea Geoană]] of the [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]], at that time the Foreign Minister of Romania, received 29.7%. Băsescu resigned as Mayor later that year, after winning the presidency of Romania.
==President of Romania==
Băsescu won the Presidential election by using [[Anti-communism|anti-communist]] and anti-corruption rhetoric. In the live TV debate with [[Adrian Năstase]] before the 2004 run-off [[Romanian presidential election, 2004|presidential election]], Băsescu caught his opponent off-guard with a rhetorical remark:
{{cquote|You know what Romania's greatest curse is right now? It's that Romanians have to choose between two former [[Romanian Communist Party|Communist Party]] members.}}
Following [[Theodor Stolojan]]'s surprise withdrawal from the [[Romanian presidential election, 2004|2004 presidential elections]], Băsescu entered the presidential race on behalf of the Justice and Truth Alliance. His main opponent was then Prime Minister and PSD president Adrian Năstase. Like Băsescu, Năstase was a former Communist Party member. Although Năstase came out ahead in the first round by 7%, Băsescu achieved a surprise comeback and won the [[December 12]] run-off election by a 2.46% margin, receiving 51.23% of the vote.
Running on a strong reform and anti-corruption platform, Băsescu's victory was characterized in the media as Romania's "[[Orange Revolution]]", in reference to the reformists' perceived victory in neighboring [[Orange Revolution|Ukraine]] during the same period. It was also a reference to the orange color used by the winning Justice and Truth Alliance.<ref>[http://www.vivid.ro/vivid69/pages69/election_back69.htm Vivid Election 2004 February 2005<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In line with an agreement between the PD and PNL, he appointed PNL leader Popescu-Tăriceanu as Prime Minister. In order to form a majority, PNL and PD formed a coalition with the [[Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania]] and the [[Conservative Party (Romania)|Humanist Party]], which later changed its name to the Conservative Party (PC). While the platform of the former has been generally in line with that of the Justice and Truth Alliance, the latter (PC) was needed in the coalition in order to obtain more than 50% of the seats in Parliament, due to the fact that apart from the opposition Social-Democrat Party, many seats were held also by the ultra-nationalist [[Greater Romania Party]].
In late 2006, the PC withdrew from the cabinet, a move at least partially related to conflicts between Băsescu and PC leader [[Dan Voiculescu]]. The withdrawal of the PC left the coalition without a majority in Parliament.
===Conflict with the Prime Minister===
Băsescu has remained very popular, due to his open style and hands-on approach. In his electoral campaign, Băsescu promised to be a "player-president" (in Romanian, ''preşedinte jucător''), in contrast to a more withdrawn president who would be just a mediator among political forces (thus somethimes creating a juridical conflict of a constitutional nature). After he became president, as legally required, he resigned from the [[Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic Party]]. However, he remained very involved in day-to-day politics, often being accused by other political leaders of overstepping constitutional boundaries on the role of the President. During the course of his presidency, his relations with Popescu-Tăriceanu gradually soured, particularly following the Prime Minister's reversal of course in July 2005 after announcing he would resign and prompt early parliamentary elections,<ref>[http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2005/07/20/feature-01 Romania's Tariceanu Reverses Decision on Resignation (SETimes.com)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> which due to its increased popularity rate could have allowed the Justice and Truth Alliance to govern alone.{{Or|date=September 2007}} The ensuing poor relations between the President and the Prime Minister have become one of the primary themes of Băsescu's presidency and of Romanian post-2004 politics,<ref>http://english.hotnews.ro/Romanian-President-in-open-conflict-with-prime-minister-articol_44137.htm</ref> with many unrelated disputes converging to this dichotomy, somewhat similar to the Iraq War debate in USA.{{Or|date=September 2007}} Under the Romanian Constitution, the president appoints the prime minister, but does not have the authority to dismiss him.
===Foreign policy===
[[Image:basescu with bush.jpg|thumb|300px|Traian Băsescu with George W. Bush ([[9 March]] [[2005]])]]
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Basescu Tadic.jpg|thumb|300px|Traian Băsescu with [[Boris Tadić]] ([[January 29]] [[2008]])]] -->
Băsescu repeatedly stated that Romania's accession to the [[European Union]] remained a top priority, and he was president when the country acceded on January 1, 2007. Both the president and the government of Prime Minister Popescu-Tăriceanu focused on Romania's planned accession to the EU, which remained a central component in Romania's foreign policy.
In addition, Băsescu has focused on a strong strategic partnership with the [[United States]], a relationship which during the 2004 presidential campaign he called the "Bucharest-London-Washington axis". In real terms, this meant a continued commitment to maintain Romanian troops in [[Afghanistan]] and a smaller contingent in [[Iraq]]; and an agreement signed in December 2005 between Romania and the U.S. to allow U.S. troops to use a Romanian military facility (Mihail Kogălniceanu military airport). Băsescu made strong ties with the President of the United States, who in return called him a friend: ''"The President and I are friends. Romania and the United States are friends, and we're allies".''
In June 2006, Băsescu came into open conflict with Popescu-Tăriceanu after the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister announced that they and the PNL sought to withdraw Romania's troops from Iraq. However, the troops stayed in Iraq, after Băsescu called a meeting of the [[Supreme Council of National Defense (Romania)|Supreme Defense Council]], which voted that the troops should stay.<ref>[http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=&C=mideast DefenseNews.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Băsescu has been vocal in calling for a regional approach to security in the [[Black Sea]] basin, which he noted remained susceptible to transborder security threats such as drug and human trafficking. Băsescu alleged "that [[Russia]] might have been involved in his suspension", citing his pro-Western foreign policy as a reason.<ref>{{cite news |first=Petru |last=Clej |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Romanian politics mired in abuse |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/.stm |work= |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date= |accessdate= }}</ref>
Băsescu has tried to improve Romania's relations with [[Moldova]], with which Romania shares a common language and culture. Furthermore, he has expressed several times his belief in the future unification of the two countries, either politically or in the framework of the European Union. His player attitude has brought both practical success,{{Or|date=September 2007}} as well as an increase in anti-Romanian rhetoric from the Communist government of Moldova, led by [[Vladimir Voronin]]. A divisive issue remains the opening of two Romanian consulates outside the capital of Moldova, as well as 900,000 Moldovans applying for Romanian citizenship. In both cases, Băsescu strongly supported moves at strengthening relations with Moldova, while the Moldovan leadership sought to cool down Băsescu's energy.
Băsescu stated that Romania favors [[Kosovo]] to be an integral part of [[Serbia]] as an outcome of [[Kosovo status process]] and that Romania will not recognize any unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo.<ref>[http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2006&mm=12&dd=17&nav_id=38670 Bucharest favors Kosovo within Serbia] B92</ref><ref>[http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=24717 Romania opposes Kosovo independence] Armenian News</ref>
===Domestic policy===
In domestic politics, Băsescu has claimed he was fighting against high-level corruption, although he is frequently involved in corruption scandals (as in The Note Scandal, Scandalul Biletelul, involving a note signed by him in which he tried to blackmail [[Radu Stroe]] <ref>[http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-arhiva-1128642-biletul-dat-traian-basescu-lui-radu-stroe-fost-facut-public.htm Biletul dat de Traian Basescu lui Radu Stroe a fost facut public - Arhiva noiembrie 2007 - HotNews.ro<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. In spring 2005, Romania successfully resolved a hostage crisis in [[Iraq]] involving three Romanian journalists and their guide. In 2005, he also focused on pressing the government to provide relief to thousands of Romanians left homeless by widespread flooding throughout the spring and summer.
{{main|Official condemnation of Romanian communism regime}}
On 18 December 2006, Băsescu delivered a speech to Parliament in which he condemned Romania's pre-1989 communist regime. Members of the opposition [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]]{{Fact|date=May 2007}} and Greater Romania Party tried to disturb the speech. Particularly vocal was the ultra-nationalist PRM leader [[Corneliu Vadim Tudor]]{{Or|date=September 2007}}
===Impeachment vote by the Parliament===
In early 2007, Băsescu was proposed for impeachment by the members of the opposition parties for allegedly unconstitutional conduct.<ref>http://www.hotnews.ro/arhiva_avt/3542.pdf</ref> One of the major issues in the confrontation was the activity of Justice Minister [[Monica Macovei]], who forced prosecutors to follow up on cases of corruption, especially those involving politically connected individuals. Among the main reasons given in the proposal to suspend Băsescu were:
<li>Infringing upon and "substituting the authority" of the Government, the judicial system and the Parliament.</li>
<li>Committing acts of "political partisanship" with direct reference to the Democratic Party, abuse of power and acting more like a "judge of the other public authorities" than a "collaborator", thus "abandoning his role of impartial mediator required by the Romanian Constitution."</li>
<li>Manipulating and "instigating public opinion against other state institutions" such as the Parliament and the Government.</li>
Băsescu and his supporters denied the accusations, stating that his actions and statements were ways of fighting against corruption in the political and judicial systems and against "circles of business interests" with unlawful purposes.
The Constitutional Court of Romania found no clear evidence of his breach of the Constitution in the sense required by the fundamental law.<ref>http://www.hotnews.ro/arhiva_avt/3796.pdf</ref> However, the court ruling was only consultative and the two chambers of the Romanian Parliament voted in favor of Băsescu's impeachment on [[April 19]], [[2007]], with 322 votes for the impeachment proposal, 108 against and 8 abstentions (the minimum number of votes needed was 233).<ref name=RFE>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/04/F0E882A3-CDB4-40EF-B829-112E105418E1.html "Romanian Parliament Suspends President"], [[Radio Free Europe]]/Radio Liberty, [[April 19]], [[2007]].</ref> Băsescu contested the decision but the Constitutional Court rejected his appeal as inadmissible and upheld the vote.
In the meantime, Macovei and several other reformist ministers were dismissed by Prime Minister Popescu-Tăriceanu, while the [[European Parliament election, 2007 (Romania)|European election]] has been postponed until at least the fall of 2007. Some in the media have characterized the anti-Băsescu coalition as the "black alliance".<ref>[http://www.cotidianul.ro/index.php?id=10373&art=27665&diraut=35&cHash=ac2738bffb Cotidianul - Comentarii - Care „popor“?<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
===Impeachment referendum===
{{main|Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, 2007}}
As a result of the impeachment vote by the Parliament, Băsescu was suspended from his function as president,<ref name=Suspend/> and a national [[Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, 2007|referendum]] was held on [[May 19]], [[2007]]<ref>[http://www.hotnews.ro/articol_70361-UPDATE-Nicolae-Vacaroiu-este-presedintele-interimar-al-Romaniei-Referendumul-pentru-demiterea-presedintelui-va-avea-loc-pe-20-mai.htm] (Hotnews.ro article)</ref><ref>[http://www.hotnews.ro/articol_70595-Referendumul-pentru-demiterea-lui-Basescu-poate-avea-loc-pe-19-mai.htm HotNews.ro - Referendumul pentru demiterea lui Băsescu poate avea loc pe 19 mai - Arhiva noiembrie 2007<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> to decide whether to dismiss the President by popular vote. According to the electoral law, an absolute majority of all Romanians with the right to vote is required for a positive result in a dismissal referendum, which means that almost 9 million people would have had to vote against Băsescu.<ref>[http://www.realitatea.net/index.php?domeniu=1&stire=56615 Pentru demitere sunt necesare circa 9 milioane de voturi - Realitatea TV - Politică<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> After the impeachment vote, several public [[Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, 2007#Support rallies for Băsescu|rallies]] to support Băsescu in the referendum and protest against his suspension were organized by PD and PLD both in Romania (Bucharest, [[Iaşi]], etc.), as well as abroad (e.g. in [[Madrid]]).
On [[April 17]], Băsescu stated that if Parliament voted for his impeachment, he would resign "five minutes" after the vote, avoiding a referendum for dismissal and triggering early presidential elections. However, on [[April 20]] he decided not to resign, claiming he wished to limit the period of political instability.<ref>[http://www.presidency.ro/?_RID=det&tb=date&id=8704&_PRID= Preşedintele României<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://english.hotnews.ro/Suspended-President-Traian-Basescu-says-he%27s-not-resigning-as-president-calls-people-to-referendum-articol_44781.htm HotNews.ro - Anghelescu era deprimat - Arhiva noiembrie 2007<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Băsescu and his supporters in the [[Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic Party]] also suggested that his political opponents would try to modify the electoral law in order to obstruct a previously suspended president to run in the elections again,<ref>[http://english.hotnews.ro/Opposition-plans-to-change-electoral-law-to-prevent-Traian-Basescu-from-running-again-for-Presidency-articol_44775.htm HotNews.ro - Finantare guvernamentala pentru programul Marco Polo - Arhiva noiembrie 2007<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> following a [[Rolandas Paksas]] scenario. While no proof for these allegations was presented, the parties that participated in the vote for impeachment made statements dismissing the scenario, which did not materialize.
On [[April 25]], the Constitutional Court approved the modifications brought by parliament to the Referendum Law. The new article 10 (regarding the presidential impeachment process) considers that the impeachment process "will be approved through the majority of votes for the participants at the referendum, and art.5(2) does not apply to this type of referendum". Since article 5(2) is the one that follows the validity of a referendum, the 19 May referendum remains valid. [http://www.ccr.ro/default.aspx?lang=EN] As only a minority of voters voted in the affirmative, Băsescu regained full prerogatives on May 24, after the referendum results were confirmed.
==Criticism==
{{main|Criticism of Traian Băsescu}}
====Success for Pandrea====
Băsescu presided over the first half of the conference of [[Consiliul Suprem al Magistraturii|CSM]] (Superior Council of Magistracy) at which the President of CSM was to be elected.
Before the candidacies were announced, Băsescu said to Anton Pandrea:
<blockquote>"I heard you have announced your candidacy, Mr. Pandrea. I wish you great success"<div align=’’right’’><small>{{ro icon}}"Am auzit că v-aţi depus candidatura, domnule Pandrea. Vă urez mult succes"</small></div></blockquote>
His former counsellor Renate Weber said that according to her information, if President Băsescu hadn’t said that, it would have been another candidacy, if not another President.
Băsescu responded to critics: “I did wrong, I did wrong”<ref>Evenimentul Zilei:[ http://evz.ro/article.php?artid= Băsescu stia dinainte cine va fi seful CSM]<br>Romania Libera:[ http://www.romanialibera.ro/a83921/presedintele-criticat-de-renate-weber.html Presedintele, criticat de Renate Weber]<br>Gandul:[ http://www.gandul.info/articol_26794/basescu_se_scoate_iar_cu__quot_am_gresit_o__am_gresit_o_quot_.html Băsescu se scoate iar cu "am gresit-o, am gresit-o"]</ref>
====Refused to accept the nomination of Cioroianu====
After Foreign Minister [[Mihai-Răzvan Ungureanu]] resigned, President Băsescu refused to accept the nomination of [[Adrian Cioroianu]] as [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Romania)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]], claiming that Cioroianu did not have enough experience. On April 5, 2007, the [[Constitutional Court of Romania|Constitutional Court]] decided that "''The Romanian President's refusal to name a member of Government at the proposal of Prime Minister started a juridical conflict of a constitutional nature.<nowiki>[...]</nowiki> The Romanian President doesn't have veto power, but, if he observes that the proposed person does not correspond to the legal conditions required to be a member of Government, he can ask the Prime Minister to renounce his proposal''".<ref>[http://english.people.com.cn//22/eng20070322_.html "Romania's PM decides to be ''ad interim'' FM"], Xinhua (''People's Daily Online''), March 22, 2007.<br>Antena 3: [http://www.antena3.ro/pdf/Comunicat_de_presa Comunicat de presa al Curṭii constituṭionale]</ref> The same day, Cioroianu assumed office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, two months after Ungureanu announced his resignation and 17 days after Ungureanu's resignation was accepted by Băsescu.
====Intimidating papers====
During the presidential campaign, before a TV interview with PSD candidate Adrian Năstase, he gave him a paper and told him: “Put it in your pocket and read it alone!”<ref>Realitatea TV: 100% cu Robert Turcescu invitat Adrian Năstase</ref>
At the oath-taking ceremony, Băsescu gave a paper as a gift to Radu Stroe, the new secretary general of the Government. Stroe went pale and refused to make it public, although Băsescu said it was not classified.<ref>{{ro icon}} Cristian Oprea, [http://www.cotidianul.ro/index.php?id=5537&art=13419&cHash=42b99add0d "Băsescu l-a defectat pe Stroe cu o hirtiuţă"], ''[[Cotidianul]]'', [[June 2]] [[2006]]</ref>
Both Adrian Năstase and Radu Stroe were involved in corruption scandals.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}<!--I am just lazy tonight to find a link to Nastase, and a metter one for Stroe--><ref>Dan Badea, [http://www.hotnews.ro/articol_62094-Micile-secrete-ale-lui-Radu-Stroe.htm ''Micile secrete ale lui ... Radu Stroe'']</ref>
====Racial slurs====
{{notability-section}}
On the day of the [[Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, 2007|suspension referendum]] ([[May 19]], [[2007]]), Traian Băsescu forcibly took the mobile phone used by [[Antena 1 (Romania)|Antena 1]] journalist Andreea Pană to film him while he was shopping in a mall. Forgetting to turn it off, he was recorded while calling the journalist ''stinking gypsy'' (''ţigancă împuţită'') in a private discussion with his wife while in his car.<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.antena3.ro/Basescu-jigneste-o-jurnalista-Antena-3_act_32833_ext.html Băsescu insults an Antena 3 journalist]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6684261.stm "Basescu chided for 'gypsy' remark"], ''[[BBC News]]'', [[23 May]] [[2007]]</ref> The discussion was made public by the media institution the journalist was working for, after the phone was returned to the journalist the next day. After public outcry, Băsescu's spokesman expressed regret over the fact that ''an inappropriate expression in a private discussion became public''.<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.realitatea.net/63053_Traian-Basescu-ii-cere-scuze-reporterului-Antenei-1-.html Traian Băsescu apologises to the Antena 1 reporter]</ref> Băsescu also received a warning for his comments from the [[National Council for Combating Discrimination]], Romania's equality watchdog.
Basescu was also involved in another racial scandal, when he called the doctor who operated on him "the first professionally able Armenian" he met. <ref>[http://www.gandul.info/politic/vosganian-il-acuza-basescu-genocid-moral.html?3928;909414= Vosganian îl acuză pe Băsescu de „genocid moral” - Gandul<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
==References==
{{reflist}}
===Other references===
*''Asociatia Civic Media'', May 2007 [http://civicmedia.ro/acm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=371&Itemid=96 "Piata Universitatii respinge noul puci al Moscovei"] ("Supporting Basescu, Civic Net - University Square is opposing the new coup-de-etat of Moscow inspiration")
*''Cronica Română'', [[22 June]] [[2006]] [http://www.cronicaromana.ro/index.php?editie=1078&art=53769 "Constantinescu îl acuză pe Băsescu de colaborare cu Securitatea"] ("Constantinescu accuses Băsescu of collaborating with the [[Securitate]]")
*''Evenimentul'', [[14 December]] [[200]]5. [http://www.evenimentul.ro/articol/emil-constantinescu-a-adus.html "Emil Constantinescu a adus documente despre care spune că atestă colaborarea preşedintelui Traian Băsescu cu Securitatea"] ("Emil Constantinescu brought documents of which he says that prove the collaboration of President Traian Băsescu with the [[Securitate]]")
*Oana Stancu, [http://www.jurnalul.ro/articol_41334/strada_mihaileanu___basescu_vede_legal_ce_e_ilegal.html Strada Mihăileanu - Băsescu vede legal ce e ilegal] ("Mihǎileanu Street - Băsescu sees as legal what is illegal"), ''[[Jurnalul Naţional]]'', [[25 November]] [[2005]]
*Andrei Tudor, [http://www.gardianul.ro/index.php?a=actualitate.xml Dosarul «Casa din Mihǎileanu»: Băsescu a bǎtut şaua Morar şi a priceput iapa Botoş] ("'House on Mihǎileanu' file: Băsescu has beaten the ''Morar'' saddle so that the ''[Ilie] Botoş'' mare may understand" (reference to a traditional Romanian saying), ''[[Gardianul]]'', [[15 December]] [[2005]]
*Ramona Lică, [http://www.gandul.info//actual/nup_pentru_basescu NUP pentru Băsescu în dosarul „Casa din Mihăileanu“] ("''NUP'' (''Neînceperea Urmǎririi Penale'' - Decision of non-indictment) for Băsescu in 'House on Mihǎileanu' file", ''[[Gândul]]'', [[11 January]], [[2006]]
*Maria Manoliu, [http://www.hotnews.ro/articol_15458-Basescu-nu-mai-da-inapoi-casa-de-pe-Mihaileanu.htm Băsescu nu mai dǎ inapoi casa de pe Mihǎileanu] ("Băsescu no longer giving back the house on Mihǎileanu", ''[[Adevărul]]'', [[18 February]] [[2005]], accessed on HotNews.ro. [[24 March]] [[2006]].
<!--http://www.ziare.com/?ziare=details&a_id=18384 Does not appear to link to anything relevant 24 March 2006 -->
*Narcis Iordache [http://www.expres.ro/article.php?artid= Dosarul Flota reinviat pentru a fi ingropat] ("The Fleet File resurrects in order to be buried again"), ''[[Evenimentul Zilei]]'', [[6 december]] [[2005]].
</div>
==External links==
{{Commons|Traian Băsescu}}
* {{ro icon}} [http://www.basescu.ro/ Basescu.ro: Official candidacy site]
* {{ro icon}} [http://www.basescu.org/ Basescu.org: Civic Net support site]
* [http://www.presidency.ro Official web site of the President of Romania]
* [http://www.presidency.ro/?_RID=htm&id=4&lang=en Traian Băsescu's short biography on the Romanian Presidency web site]
* {{ro icon}} [http://www.politic.ro/traianbasescu.php Traian Băsescu's Curriculum Vitae]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/.stm BBC Profile: Traian Băsescu]
* [http://www.analyzingeu.eu/mihai/2007/where-to-basescu/ Analyzing EU Article]
* {{ro icon}} [http://www.reporterdeocazie.ro/ Reporter de ocazie: Photos, videos and articles about Traian Basescu suspend]
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| title = [[List of Presidents of Romania|President of Romania]]
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[[ar:ترايان باسيسكو]]
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