Romania on Saturday morning began referendum on the dismissal of suspended President Traian Basescu.

The referendum started at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) and is to end at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT). More than 18 million citizens registered on the rolls are expected to vote whether they still want Traian Basescu to be the head of state or not.

A total of 17,294 polling stations were set up throughout the country and 178 were set up abroad in 93 countries for overseas Romanians to cast their ballots.

According to the referendum law, citizens taking part in the ballot will choose "yes" or "no" to the question written on the ballot paper: "Do you agree with the Romanian President's dismissal?"

The Ministry of Defence is to have nine polling stations, among which eight are in the operation bases in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and another one on board the Queen Mary frigate.There are approximately 1,600 soldiers registered on the voting lists.

Interior and Administrative Reform Minister Cristian David warned on Friday in a press statement that voting twice would be considered a criminal offence and would be punished.

People voting outside their residence locality should fill in a bona fide declaration that they haven't voted earlier, he explained. "The persons voting several times will be identified and punished," he said.

Approximately 52,000 employees of the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform will be deployed for the referendum. "They will ensure the security of the polling stations and serve as special teams ready to intervene whenever they are needed," David said earlier.

The National Institute of Statistics will provide the public and the media statistical data on votes every one-and-a-half hours and the final results of the referendum.

On April 19, the parliament approved an impeachment proposal against President Basescu by a vote of 322 to 108 with 10 abstentions, paving the way for the legislature to organize a referendum within 30 days on his fate.

Opposition lawmakers accused Basescu of violating 19 constitutional items, including usurping the cabinet, criticizing judges and ordering to tap ministers' telephone calls.

If the referendum favors the removal of Basescu, the government must organize, according to the constitution, elections within three months to elect a new president.

According to local analysts, Basescu will survive the referendum as he enjoys large popularity among the public, though he faces much hostility in the parliament.

A latest survey shows that 79.1 percent of Romanians will vote against the dismissal.

Source: Xinhua