* EU's Barroso deeply concerned over developments
* Minister resigns, cites political pressure
* Court to rule on impeachment vote end of month
(Updates with Commission statement)
BRUSSELS/BUCHAREST, Aug 10 (Reuters) - The European
Commission, citing delays in validating a referendum on
impeaching Romania's president, said on Friday the Romanian
government had reneged on its commitment to protect democracy
and the rule of law.
The July referendum in favour of impeaching Romania's
president is being reviewed by the country's Constitutional
Court to see if it met a minimum 50 percent turnout requirement.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta's drive to oust President Traian
Basescu, whom he accuses of improperly blocking government
policies, has been condemned by the European Commission and
Washington.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in a
letter to Ponta that he was worried by allegations of pressure
being applied to judges on the Constitutional Court.
"I am deeply concerned about recent developments relating to
the Constitutional Court's validation of the referendum, despite
the assurances you have personally given me in our contacts," he
said.
"It is now crucial that the Romanian government respond
without undue delay to the requests of the Constitutional Court
as regards the transmission of the relevant electoral lists, so
that the Court may issue its final decision on the referendum as
soon as possible."
The court was expected to invalidate the vote, but is
investigating claims by Ponta's Social Liberal Union (USL) party
that the size of the electorate is smaller than was previously
thought, therefore pushing the turnout above the 50 percent
mark.
The letter also expressed concerns by the Commission about
allegations of pressure being applied to the court's judges.
The Strasbourg-based Council of Europe said the court had
appealed to it for protection earlier this week.
On Tuesday, the president of the Venice Commission - the
Council of Europe's advisory body on constitutional matters -
said in a statement that the court had asked his panel for help
to protect its independence from political pressure.
"It is essential that such allegations are immediately
brought before the competent authorities and thoroughly
investigated," Barroso said.
He added that the European Union would pay particular
attention to developments that have occurred since the
referendum in its next report due before the end of the year.
INTERNAL SHOCKWAVES
Romanian prosecutors asked parliament on Friday to approve
an investigation against a former junior minister for suspected
abuse of power.
They said Victor Dobre, who quit earlier this week, had used
his post in the interior ministry to influence the
Constitutional Court's pending Aug. 31 ruling on the validity of
the plebiscite.
The dispute over Basescu has stalled policy-making, raised
concern over an aid deal led by the International Monetary Fund
and plunged the leu currency to a record low.
(Editing by Michael Roddy)
