Romania’s parliament has asked President Traian Basescu to step down after his businessman brother was detained for allegedly taking a bribe to help shorten an underworld boss’s jail sentence.
The vote highlights the split between the ruling coalition and the president four months before a presidential election, and follows an earlier plea from leftist Prime Minister Victor Ponta for the centrist Basescu to step down.
Basescu has made it clear he will not resign and has denied all knowledge of his brother’s dealings and said he was not exempt from the law.
Parliament’s request, which is not binding, was approved with 344 votes in favour and 17 abstentions, while two centre-right opposition parties refused to participate.
Romania will vote for a new president on November 2. Ponta is expected to stand, and observers say he is best placed to win, which would cement his leftist Social Democrats’ dominance of Romanian politics as the president nominates the prime minister and appoints judges and prosecutors.
Basescu cannot run again as he has served two consecutive terms since 2005.
“Romania’s President Traian Basescu is no longer rightfully entitled to ensure the prestige, independence and legitimacy of the presidential function, which is why he should immediately resign,” parliament’s declaration read.