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13. 06. 12. - 15:00

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13. 06. 12. - 15:00

Legislative decides PM to represent Romania at 28 June European Council

Michael Leidig

The Parliament ruled on Tuesday night over a request filed by the Prime Minister, deciding that the head of the government is entitled to represent Romania at the upcoming Summit of the European Council, due on 28 and 29 June in Brussels, local press informs. The MPS adopted with 249 votes for and 30 against and one abstention a declaration in this respect.

The President Traian Basescu reacted right away saying that he is the only one representing Romania, according to the Constitution. "The PM does not represent the country", he said in a statement from Cotroceni Palace, soon after the Parliament’s decision was announced. Basescu said that if Victor Ponta wants to take over the prerogatives of the head of the state he needs a judicial act and that he won’t respect the MPs decision.

The premier said that most probably he will go to Brussels even if he doesn’t want to start an open conflict with the president.

"I will call the president today and when his agenda allows it, I will go to Cotroceni. There’s no room for vanity here. I am the premier and I will certainly go to talk to the president", Ponta said earlier today (Weds)

The premier said he agrees with the Parliament’s decision according to which, for matters related to the external, security and common defence policies of the European Union the president has he prerogative to represent the country. "When we are talking about issues that come under the executive’s attributions, such as the social and economic situation, it is obvious and more efficient as well as constitutional for the PM to take part in EU summit meetings", Ponta said.

Romania cannot be represented by both the head of state and the government as the Lisbon Treaty does not allow a double participation for the member states.

Ponta turned down the option of impeaching the president if he persists in ignoring the Parliament’s decision. "I am convinced that the realism will take over sooner or later", he said.

The legislators altered today the Law on the impeachment of the president, ruling that the head of state might be suspended in case of breaching the Constitution by the decision of the Parliament, without the arbitration of the Constitutional Court.

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