Romania's suspended President Traian Basescu on Friday evening announced in a statement that he will not resign office.

"My resignation would have deepened the political crisis," said Basescu, adding that "I have taken the decision, which I believe is the best solution to Romania, to show up for a referendum."

On Thursday, the parliament approved an impeachment proposal against Basescu by a vote of 322 to 108 with 10 abstentions, paving the way for the legislature to organize a referendum within 30 days to permanently remove him from office.

Basescu last week vowed to resign "in five minutes" if lawmakers voted to suspend him, but put off announcing his decision.

Romania's Constitutional Court on Friday afternoon decided that the Senate Speaker Nicolae Vacaroiu will become temporary president. The court at the same time rejected Basescu's appeal against the parliament's decision to suspend him.

"I am taking the acting presidency for 30 days, according to the suspension decision taken by the parliament and the decision of the Constitutional Court. If Basescu does not tender his resignation, this means May 20 will be the only date for the suspension of Traian Basescu," said acting President Nicolae Vacaroiu.

Vacaroiu also mentioned that the resignation decision rests exclusively with Basescu. "This is a decision only Basescu may take," he stressed.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2007)