Romanian President Traian Basescu has survived a referendum on his impeachment, after an insufficient number of voters turned out to cast ballots.

Election officials say the voter turnout Sunday was close to 46 percent, but did not reach the required 50 percent.

Mr. Basescu said Romanians invalidated the referendum by not participating.

The country's parliament suspended Mr. Basescu earlier this month, after his opponents led by center-left Prime Minister Victor Ponta accused him of violating the constitution. Mr. Ponta's Social-Liberal Union took power and immediately started the process of removing the president.

Mr. Basescu says the impeachment process was a political vendetta. He is set to be reinstated and continue his term until it ends in 2014.