Bucharest , Romania ( CNN ) -- Romania 's president Traian Basescu was suspended on Friday , after the impeachment motion filed by the ruling coalition passed the Parliament 's vote . Romania 's coalition of Social Democrats and Liberals argued their action by saying that President Traian Basescu has breached the Constitution and overstepped his authority . The motion passed with 256 votes , 39 more than the minimum required . The country is expected to hold a referendum on July 29 , when Romanians will have to vote whether they want Basescu to remain in office . During the suspension , National Liberal Party leader Crin Antonescu , who is also the president of the Senate , will assume the interim presidency . Earlier this week , Antonescu was appointed the president of the Senate . This position allows him to assume the president 's attributions , in case the latter is suspended , according to the Constitution . Crin Antonescu said on Friday he is ready to step out of politics if Basescu wins the referendum . During his speech in parliament , before the vote , Basescu accused the ruling coalition of taking control of the country 's judicial system and public institutions . He also expressed concern about the country 's state of law and said this political turmoil will have long-term negative impacts on Romania . `` Take care of the country ! '' Basescu said at the end of his speech . It is the second time Basescu has faced suspension since he took the power , eight years ago . The first time was in 2007 , after which he won a referendum and returned to office . Earlier on Friday , Romania 's Constitutional Court gave an ambiguous statement regarding the constitutional status of this impeachment motion . The judges approved some of the points from the motion , but they did n't make it clear whether Basescu has violated the Constitution or not . In any case , the Court played an advisory role this time , leaving the final word to the Parliament . The court issued a statement saying that one of its judges , Aspazia Cojocaru , received threats prior to court debates on the impeachment motion . The political developments sparked controversy in the international community . On Friday , the European Commission expressed concern about the country 's political turmoil , `` especially regarding actions that appear to reduce the effective powers of independent institutions like the Constitutional Court . '' The Commission 's President Jose Manuel Barosso invited Romanian Prime Minister Ponta to Brussels next week to hold talks regarding the country 's political developments . This after Ponta was accused of trying to dismantle the Constitutional Court by changing some of its judges . U.S . Ambassador to Romania Mark Gitenstein , said he was `` deeply concerned '' that the independence of the country 's democratic institutions was under threat . In the meantime , hundreds of people protested on Friday , expressing their concern about the country 's political crisis . While some Romanians believe the government is not respecting the rule of law and democratic principles , others expressed their support for the ruling coalition and called for Basescu to step down . Earlier this week Romania 's Parliament passed a law making it easier to impeach Basescu , a decision that sparked some controversy . In addition , the prime minister accused some Constitutional Court judges of political bias and incompatibility and suggested that they should be replaced . The ruling coalition this week sacked the heads of both chambers of Parliament , who were Basescu allies , and replaced them with politicians close to the prime minister . It also dismissed the country 's ombudsman , whom it accused of political bias . The newly appointed ombudsman , Valer Dorneanu , is a former Social Democrat member of Parliament . Basescu 's suspension is the latest in a series of attacks between the prime minister and the president . The two men also argued over who was entitled to represent Romania at last month 's meeting of the European Council in Brussels . Ponta received parliament 's vote to go to Brussels on behalf of the country , but the Constitutional Court ruled the president had the right to attend the event . In the end , the prime minister ignored the court 's ruling and traveled to Brussels . Romania 's government became the object of international criticism after the prime minister was accused of plagiarizing his doctoral thesis . Ponta dismissed the accusation as a political attack from Basescu . The country 's political turmoil has dropped Romania 's currency , Leu , to the lowest level in the last two weeks .
NEW : Parliament votes to suspend the president . NEW : Referendum vote within 30 days will decide his fate . The move marks the latest in a series of attacks between the prime minister and the president . The coalition holds a comfortable majority in parliament .