​Romania's governing alliance of Liberals and Social Democrats (USL) launched a massive series of moves on state institutions and key people in the Parliament, the Constitutional Court and the People's Lawyer (Ombudsman) on Tuesday. The moves fall in line with the phases of an action plan by USL - first presented by HotNews.ro in its Romanian version - to suspend President Traian Basescu, who the USL leaders see as the main obstacle in their taking over effective power in the country. Opposition leaders decried on Tuesday what they called a "coup d'etat" and a major attack on the Constitution and the state of law.

UPDATE Romanian USL-dominated Senators voted on Tuesday to dismiss Senate Speaker Vasile Blaga. USL immediately pushed its leader Crin Antonescu as new Speaker

UPDATE 2 - 10.30P.M. House of Deputies Speaker Roberta Anastase - a member of Vasile Blaga-led Democratic Liberals (PDL), who support President Basescu - was also voted out of office by USL-dominated deputies on Tuesday evening. PSD immediately nominated deputy Valeriu Zgonea to be voted new House speaker.

The Romanian-language of HotNews.ro has quoted converging political sources to describe a political plan by the USL - the governing alliance formed of PM Victor Ponta's Social Democrats (PSD) and Crin Antonescu's Liberals (PNL) - to achieve a quick suspension of President Traian Basescu.

Two months after taking over government, USL has been noted mainly for its political disputes with President Traian Basescu. USL has been claiming Basescu is the last major obstacle in its attempt to govern the country properly, accusing him of controlling various institutions and key people to impede the work of the government. Their moves so far have been repeatedly described by the political opposition and opposing opinion leaders as attacks on democracy. Also see: US