['< sod > former pro - western president traian basescu ( 2004 - 2014 ) has twice been impeached by the parliament of romania ( in 2007 and in 2012 ), the second time on the background of street protest earlier in the year. both times a popular referendum was called. the second time, in the [ [ romanian presidential impeachment referendum, 2012 ] ], more than 7 million voters ( 88 % of participants ) < ref > { { cite web | url = http : / / www. becreferendum2012. ro / rezultate. html | title = biroul electoral central, rezultate | date = 2012 | accessdate = 7 october 2016 | publisher = biroul electoral central } } < / ref > voted to oust mr. basescu, far more than the 5 million who initially supported him in the 2009 presidential elections. however the constitutional court of romania, in a split decision, invalided the outcome of the referendum, claiming the turnout ( 46. 24 % by official statistics ) was too low < ref > { { cite web | url = http : / / www. hotnews. ro / stiri - esential - 13063437 - ora - 10 - 00 - incepe - sedinta - curtii - constitutionale - care - urmeaza - decida - daca - referendumul - este - sau - nu - valid. htm | title = curtea constitutionala a invalidat referendumul cu scorul 6 - 3. traian basescu revine la cotroceni | date = 2012 | accessdate = 7 october 2016 | publisher = hotnews } } < / ref >. the referendum was boycotted by supporters of mr. basescu. klaus iohannis is seen as a successor of the same pro - western orientation as mr. basescu. < eod > < sod > former president traian basescu ( 2004 - 2014 ) has twice been impeached by the parliament of romania ( in 2007 and in 2012 ), the second time on the background of street protest earlier in the year. both times a popular referendum was called. the second time, in the [ [ romanian presidential impeachment referendum, 2012 ] ], more than 7 million voters ( 88 % of participants ) < ref > { { cite web | url = http : / / · www. becreferendum2012. ro / rezultate. html | title = biroul electoral central, rezultate | date = 2012 | accessdate = 7 october 2016 | publisher = biroul electoral central } } < / ref > voted to oust mr. basescu, far more than the 5 million who initially supported him in the 2009 presidential elections. however the constitutional court of romania, in a split decision, invalided the outcome of the referendum, claiming the turnout ( 46. 24 % by official statistics ) was too low < ref > { { cite web | url = http : / / www. hotnews. ro / stiri - esential - 13063437 - ora - 10 - 00 - incepe - sedinta - curtii - constitutionale - care - urmeaza - decida - daca - referendumul - este - sau - nu - valid. htm | title = curtea constitutionala a invalidat referendumul cu scorul 6 - 3. traian basescu revine la cotroceni | date = 2012 | accessdate = 7 october 2016 | publisher = hotnews } } < / ref >. the referendum was boycotted by supporters of mr. basescu. klaus iohannis is seen as a successor of the same pro - western orientation as mr. basescu. < eod >']