Romania’s president accuses government of power grab

Romania’s ceremonial president has hit back at the government over attempts to impeach him.

Traian Basescu is accused by the ruling leftist Social-Liberal Union (USL) of breaking the constitution and pressuring judges.

But the president has told parliament that he is the victim of what he called the government’s bid to grab control of the judiciary and other state institutions. A vote is set to be held on Friday with a referendum on his impeachment within a month.

The impeachment threat is part of a wider political clash that has paralysed lawmaking and raised doubts over Romania’s ability to keep to a five billion euro International Monetary Fund-led aid deal.

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