Social Democrats, Liberals aim at changing Romania into parliamentary republic

Change the Constitution so that Romania becomes a parliamentary republic with only a symbolic role saved for the head of state. This is a goal two political camps are working for separately: the Social Democrats (PSD, opposition) and the governing Liberals (PNL), four MPs belonging to the two groups and who did not disclose their identity told HotNews.ro on Tuesday.

The two parties plan to find solutions to change the Constitution using either a vote in the Parliament, where two thirds of the members of the two chambers must vote in favor, or by organizing a referendum.

“The idea is to keep Traian Basescu suspended for as long as possible so that we find solutions to change the Constitution”, one source told HotNews.ro, referring to the Romanian President, who was suspended by the Parliament last week.

And PSD spokesman Cristian Diaconescu admitted for HotNews.ro that a first working group of his party was due to meet on Tuesday with changing Romania into a parliamentary republic as one possible point of discussion.

According to Article 150 of the Romanian Constitution, rewriting the fundamental law can be initiated by the President of Romania at Government proposal, by at least one fourth of the total number of deputies and senators, and by at least 500,000 voting citizens.

As for the revision procedure, Article 151 of the Constitution says that the project of proposal to change the Constitution must be passed by the House and the Senate with a majority of at least two thirds of the total number of members in each chamber.

If a mediation procedure fails to lead to an accord, the two chambers make a decision in a joint session, with the vote of at least three quarters of the total number of deputies and senators.

The revision is concluded once it is approved in a referendum to be organized within 30 days since the adoption of the project or the proposal.

Article 152 says the current provisions of the Constitution regarding the national, independent, unitary and indivisible character of the Romanian state, the republican form of government, the integrity of the territory, the independence of Justice, political pluralism and the official language cannot be subject to change.

HotNews.ro, Apr 24, 2007