Traian Basescu remains Romania's president

Voters evidently regard Traian Basescu "as the champion of the renewal of state and society", writes Klaus Brill, who remains sceptical: "The reconfirmed president has weakened the country's institutions with public humiliations and other provocations - but in particular he has weakened the government (which was doing a good job before the country's EU accession) and the parliament. Are the people to get rid of the very same MPs they elected two years ago just because they won't obey Basescu?... Now he's initiated a debate about the introduction of a first past the post electoral system, instead of concentrating on the more important task of strengthening all the projects that were begun before accession to the EU: the reform of the justice system, the battle against corruption, securing the country's borders, extending its infrastructures. If Basescu and his opponents want to achieve these things they must now draw closer and agree on some form of cohabitation so that the country can return to normal government."

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