Romania's president has hit back at the governing coalition for trying to impeach him, saying his detractors are trying to undermine the country's legal system to divert attention from its domestic problems, AP reported. The ruling left-leaning coalition claims Traian Basescu has overstepped his authority and interfered in the justice system since his 2009 re-election. Basescu told lawmakers debating his impeachment Thursday that he had built independent legal institutions since he was first elected in 2004, which he says the left-leaning governing coalition now wants to tear down. He also says the move is a government ploy to divert attention from accusations that Prime Minister Victor Ponta plagiarized his doctoral thesis. Lawmakers will vote on Basescu's impeachment Friday. If approved, a referendum will be held. Some 75 percent of voters need to approve the impeachment for it to be successful. -- SPA
