The head of the Liberal group in the European Parliament Graham Watson said during talks with Romanian PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu, also a Liberal, on Monday that a possible suspension of Romanian President Traian Basescu would not affect the integration of Romania with the EU.

But Tariceanu quoted Watson after the talks as saying that the current political situation in Romania is affecting the country’s elections for the European Parliament, which he himself has postponed until autumn 2007.

The Parliament must make a decision fast regarding the suspension of the President, the prime minister said. That was necessary to prevent the prolongation of the political crisis in Bucharest, he said.

Also on Monday, ALDE head Watson also met Dan Voiculescu, the head of the Conservative Party, which is also affiliated to the European group. Voiculescu said after the talks that they discussed about the current political climate in Romania, but refused to provide details of the meeting.

Graham Watson is now expected to leave Bucharest for the Western Romanian city of Timisoara to attend ALDE Political Board works on Monday and Tuesday.