Romanians look set to reject parliament's attempt to remove President Traian Basescu from power in a referendum today, handing him a popular mandate to revive his anti-corruption crusade.
Surveys show around two-thirds of Romanians intend to vote "no" to parliament's proposal to impeach the plain-talking former sea captain.
Parliament suspended Mr Basescu as president last month and called the impeachment referendum on the grounds he had overstepped his authority. Opponents accuse him of corruption himself, and involvement in illicit secret police activity.
In the referendum, Romanians will answer the question: "Do you agree with the dismissal of president Traian Basescu?"
Polling stations open at 8am local time and the first exit polls will come out after voting ends at 8pm. There is no turnout threshold for the referendum to be valid. About half of the 18 million voters are expected to vote.
Corruption is endemic in the ex-communist Black Sea nation, allowed to join the European Union in January on the premise its efforts to combat it would continue. But soon after entry they all but stalled and Mr Basescu's allies in government, like anti-graft Justice Minister Monica Macovei and Interior Minister Vasile Blaga, were sacked by Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu.
Diplomats say the European Commisssion is set to criticise the government in its June progress report, with some saying Romania risks sanctions that could cut aid from the bloc.
"Some people are beginning to think that we might have let Romania in too quickly because now they have no incentive to continue with reforms," a senior EU official in Brussels said.
Tensions between Mr Basescu and Mr Tariceanu have been growing steadily, with the president demanding faster reforms. He has accused Mr Tariceanu, an erstwhile ally, of protecting a network of corrupt politicians, some of whom he says are linked to the ex-communists and the country's new business elites.
"We need to free politics of the influence of powerful financiers," Mr Basescu said in an interview with major daily Evenimentul Zileion the eve of the vote. Mr Tariceanu, who has seen the popularity of his government fall dramatically, has dismissed such charges as "politicking". Mr Basescu, who was forced out of his presidential palace during his suspension, has since criss-crossed the country, promising at rallies he will push ahead with reforms if he wins.