Referendum Begins on Constitutional Reforms

Only a trickle of voters turned up at Romanian polling stations to vote on bringing their constitution into line with EU law, as many stayed away to rebuke the government for failing to alleviate poverty and corruption.

The two-day referendum has been touted by the government as a vote for the European Union, which Romania hopes to join in 2007. But only 8.19% of eligible voters cast ballots in the first eight hours of voting.

The proposed reforms would make national law subordinate to EU law once Romania joins the bloc and would allow the euro to replace the lei as currency. The reforms also would allow the military to come under NATO command after Romania joins the alliance in 2004.