The Board of Directors of the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) decided on Tuesday to urge voters to abstain from voting in the referendum on July 29 for the impeachment of president Traian Basescu (in picture).

According to the law, if at least 50 percent plus one of eligible voters do not attend the referendum, the vote will be invalid and Traian Basescu will return to his presidential seat.

President Traian Basescu said PDL members will not withdraw from the polling stations, where they will attend the vote as observers. But he went on to say "there are many indicators that the ruling coalition intends to defraud" the referendum. He previously said he was considering asking the PDL to  "totally boycott" the referendum.

The president however said he will continue to tell voters to attend the vote and say no to his impeachment.

Ioana Toader, ioana.toader@romania-insider.com