Romanian interior minister Ioan Rus (in picture) stepped down from his Government position this morning, after pressure from all sides, starting with suspended president Traian Basescu and continuing with interim president Crin Antonescu.

Rus of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), whose ministry was in charge of organizing the referendum, said he resigned because he is an honest and respectable politician.

Romania is currently awaiting the validation of the presidential impeachment referendum, which was held on July 29. The country's Constitutional Court decided to check the electoral rolls in order to decide whether the referendum was valid or not. Initially delaying the decision until September 12, the Court then brought the decision forward to August 31.

Meanwhile, local administrations across the country were asked to start a mini-census, to check whether all the people on the electoral rolls really live in Romania.

The whole referendum debate started after less than the needed number of electors showed up to vote, thus invalidating the referendum, which needed 50 percent plus one attendance, but got only 46 percent. This should have returned suspended president Traian Basescu to the presidential seat, but the number of people with a right to vote and the outdated electoral rolls were questioned after the referendum.

editor@romania-insider.com

photo source: gov.ro