The exit poll showed 86.9% of voters cast ballots to impeach Basescu, while 13.1% opposed impeachment.
An exit poll by CCSB, ordered by TV station Antena 3, said voter turnout was at 44% and 84% of ballots were in favor of impeachment and 16% opposed.
The referendum required a voter turnout of more than 50% to be legally binding, which means Basescu will be reinstated.
After the polls closed, Basescu thanked Romanians for “keeping the flame of democracy alive” and rejecting the coup d’etat staged by the governing Social Liberal Union.