The Romanian government's bold and controversial attempt to unseat the head of state appeared to have failed when too few people turned out to vote over the impeachment of President Traian Basescu.
The centre-left prime minister, Victor Ponta, has been campaigning to remove the president since coming to power in May, raising questions about democracy and the rule of law in Romania and prompting strong pressure on Ponta from Brussels, Berlin, and Washington.
The national electoral bureau said just under 46% of voters cast their ballots, rendering the plebiscite void because the EU insisted on a turnout of 50% plus one for the vote to count.
According to television exit polls, over 80% those who voted supported impeachment of Basescu, whose austerity policies have made him hugely unpopular.
"I congratulate the millions who voted," said Ponta, referring to the projected 85% of ballots cast said to support impeaching the president.
Basescu claimed the abstention rate was in his favour. He said: "Romanians have rejected the coup initiated by Victor Ponta. Today, Romanians decided their own fate by invalidating the referendum." Under rules insisted on by the European commission in Brussels, half the electorate plus one had to vote to validate the referendum. That looked unlikely, although the turnout figure is certain to trigger weeks of argument about manipulation of the vote.
Florica Grigore, a pensioner, argued for abstention: "I refuse to participate. Basescu should have been allowed to finish his mandate.
"This political situation has been brewing for the past 20 years and it is not helping anyone. Politicians have done nothing but steal from us."
The political infighting and the means employed have brought warnings from the EU, which Romania joined five years ago, that the rule of law and democratic rights are being imperilled because of ruthless anti-constitutional measures enacted by the Ponta government.
Most of those who voted wanted rid of the president. Ana Maria Popescu, a 31 year-old nurse, who lives in Pitesti, said: "I voted for change in Romania. Traian Basescu has toyed with his own people. He cut our salaries and pensions. The impeachment would be a positive development and the referendum is a first step towards achieving stability. I hope the next stage brings about better days for the economy and Romanian politics."
The Ponta government campaigned for a high turnout while the Basescu camp urged people to boycott the vote. Amid the turmoil of the past month, Basescu was suspended from office pending the referendum calling for his impeachment on grounds of abuse of office and corruption.
The likelihood is that Basescu will need to be reinstated in the presidency, triggering a fresh and even more bitter round of political recrimination between the president and prime minister.
Daniel Dolocan, 25, a building worker, said: "I hope Basescu survives this referendum. After all, he is the president we elected and he should be left to finish his mandate. This campaign has been very tiring, political propaganda from dusk till dawn. Personally, I wish all politicians resigned so that others can come and fill their places."