Romanian President Traian Basescu, suspended by parliament for alleged abuse of power, easily survived a referendum on his impeachment, exit polls showed.
Three-quarters of voters in Saturday's referendum said they did not want Basescu ousted from office, according to one exit poll conducted by Insomar Metro Media. A second poll, conducted by CURS, put the figure at 78.1 percent.
Just last month, parliament suspended Basescu -- who has been locked in a political standoff with the prime minister and lawmakers -- saying he violated the Constitution by usurping the role of the prime minister and criticizing the courts.
Basescu, an outspoken ex-mayor who is a strong proponent of anti-corruption reforms for the new EU member, said Saturday's referendum showed that the Romanian people, too, back the reforms.
"Romanians want justice, and we have an obligation to give them what they want," he told supporters. "I appeal to parliament to cooperate in taking into account today's vote."
Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said late on Saturday that he would work with Basescu.
"Romanians gave Traian Basescu a second chance," he said. "I respect this decision and will act in a spirit of collaboration with the president."
Tariceanu is expected to come under pressure from his Liberal Party base to work more closely with Basescu, after exit polls showed that a majority of Liberal supporters voted for the president.
Hundreds of Basescu supporters gathered in a central square in Bucharest to celebrate, carrying orange flags and banners.
They chanted the president's name and called for Tariceanu's resignation. Basescu joined the celebrations and told supporters he would do "everything possible" to modernize the country.
"I will not negotiate the people's hopes for a modern country, a new Romania that is different than the one which emerged during the transition" from communism, he said.
"Nobody wants a Romania owned by oligarchs anymore," he added, referring to the wealthy businessmen and politicians who he said took control of the country during the transition from communism.
The prime minister and Basescu, former allies, had clashed on policy and had attacked one another in the media. Last month, Tariceanu expelled several Cabinet ministers seen as being close to Basescu, including reformist Justice Minister Monica Macovei.
The dispute between the two leaders was seized upon by the left-wing opposition Social Democratic Party, which proposed impeaching Basescu, who had ousted it from power in 2004. Four other ruling and opposition parties, including Tariceanu's joined in voting to suspend the president last month despite a court ruling that Basescu did not abuse his powers.
Social Democrat leader Mircea Geoana acknowledged defeat, but warned that Basescu had "won a victory without glory," because turnout had been relatively low. Geoana said his party, which is the largest in parliament, would return to people's priorities such as pensions and health care.
"We must learn our lessons," he said.
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