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Impeachment of Romania's president overturned

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Aug. 27, 2012, 11:11 p.m. | World — by Associated Press

Head of Romania's Constitutional Court Augustin Zegrean, left, and judge Petre Lazaroiu, right, are seen in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, Aug. 27, 2012, while waiting in parliament to read the court's decision regarding the referendum to impeach President Traian Basescu. Romania’s Parliament has agreed with a Constitutional Court decision to reinstate President Traian Basescu, after he was impeached by Parliament on grounds he violated the constitution.The move ends weeks of political infighting that has led the United States and the European Union to question whether the former Communist country is fully committed to the rule of law and democratic norms.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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 BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A court ruling that overturned the impeachment of Romania's president has been approved by Parliament.

The lawmakers held a special session Monday to have the Constitutional Court ruling read, and the only requirement for its approval was for a majority of the lawmakers to show up.

Last month, Parliament impeached President Traian Basescu after a majority voted that he had seriously violated the constitution. A national referendum was held on July 29 during which a majority of voters supported Parliament's decision. But the Constitutional Court later invalidated the referendum because the turnout was too low.

On Monday, just over 50 percent of Parliament's lawmakers turned up at the special session.

After the vote, Parliament Speaker Valeriu Zgonea said: "We are a European state and are obliged to respect the law."

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