Bucharest, Romania (CNN) -- Romanian President Traian Basescu will officially return to office after the country's top court ruled Tuesday that a referendum to remove him was invalid. The nation-wide impeachment effort last month had appeared to be heading for failure because turnout was below 50%. Prime Minister Victor Ponta made a last-ditch effort Monday to get the Constitutional Court to approve the referendum by submitting new voter lists, but the court said Tuesday the vote was not valid. Officials said after the referendum on July 29 that just over 46% of registered voters had cast ballots. Those who did cast ballots voted nearly 9 to 1 to impeach the president, the Central Election Bureau said.
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President Traian Basescu survives a nation-wide vote to remove him
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The country's top court invalidates the referendum because of low turnout
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The prime minister says the president should consider stepping down anyway
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