<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>