Romania's President Traian Basescu announced Friday he is not going to resign despite the fact that he was suspended by the country's lawmakers.
Basescu neglected the announcement, he made last week by, saying he would step down in order to bring on snap polls, if suspended.
A parliamentary commission found the president guilty of overstepping his constitutional authority and recommended his suspension last month.
Basescu refuted the claims to the Constitutional Court, which has, however, also backed the MPs' decision.
Senate Speaker Nicolae Vacaroiu was appointed nominal head of state until the issue is resolved.
The next step is holding a referendum within 30 days of the vote, which should validate the parliament's decision.
Romania joined the European Union in January, celebrating the occasion with its worst political crisis after the fall of communism.
Basescu's ongoing war of words with Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu and the left-wing opposition had little effect on the president's public approval rankings, but effectively paralysed both the government and the parliament.