BRUSSELS: Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta fought Thursday to convince European Union leaders that his bid to oust the president does not threaten democracy.
"I care a lot about the image of Romania as a democracy, solving its internal political debates through a political and a popular vote," Ponta told a news conference in Brussels.
The 39-year-old premier spoke on the second day of a charm offensive after concerns from EU partners and the United States over moves to impeach President Traian Basescu and curb the powers of the constitutional court.
Senior EU officials have warned that the centre-left government's actions could slow Romania's full EU integration as well as its bid to join the borderless Schengen travel area.
The prime minister, who was later to meet EU president Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso, reiterated he would reverse any actions deemed wrong by Brussels.
But he defended his coalition's push to oust Basescu, noting that the parliament's vote to suspend the president was upheld by the constitutional court and that his impeachment would be decided in a July 29 referendum.
Ponta has been locked in a power struggle with Basescu, his conservative rival, since the centre-left government took over in May from a right-wing cabinet toppled by a no-confidence motion.
"We are now in a political internal crisis because of a failed cohabitation situation," he said, accusing Basescu of blocking the new government's attempts to switch from past austerity policies to a growth agenda.
"President Basescu has been ruling our country for the last eight years, he lost the support of the people, he lost the support of the parliament," Ponta said.
Basescu, who has been suspended from his functions by the parliament for now, has alleged the real goal of his opponents in the Social Liberal Union (USL) coalition is to bring the judiciary under its control.
But Basescu has himself faced counter accusations that he has tried to dominate the judiciary since he took over in 2004 as well as over-reach his powers.
Ponta rejected any parallel between his government's moves and the highly controversial constitutional reforms implemented in Hungary by conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
"Romania is not going to be in fact a new case of worry and concern for European partners," he said.
But EU officials reiterated their worries on Thursday.
"Our concern is about the proper functioning of democratic institutions, respect of the constitution," Van Rompuy said. "We are waiting for the Romanian prime minister's explanation."
EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding voiced harsher words on Wednesday, warning that moves to undermine the independence of the judiciary could delay Romania's Schengen accession.
"Personally I see a great danger in the recent developments in Romania, which could call into question the progress that has been made during the last years," she said before talks with Romanian Justice Minister Titus Corlatean.
Romania, a former communist bloc nation that joined the EU in 2007, has seen its bid to join Schengen blocked so far by the Netherlands over concerns about corruption and organised crime.
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