BUCHAREST — Romanian lawmakers impeached President Traian Basescu in an overwhelming vote Friday, paving the way for a national referendum that could see the divisive and increasingly unpopular leader ousted from the powerful position he has held for eight years.

The vote of 256 to 114 in Parliament comes as Basescu and Prime Minister Victor Ponta are engaged in a bitter power struggle in the eastern European country of 19 million. The machinations, especially attempts to sideline the judiciary, have drawn statements of concern from the European Union and the United States.

Basescu’s opponents accused him of overstepping his authority by meddling in government business and legal affairs.

The 60-year-old former ship captain also was accused of making bigoted remarks about Gypsies and disabled people.

Senate Speaker Crin Antonescu, who will serve as interim president, said a popular referendum on Basescu’s fate will be held July 29.

Basescu was impeached in 2007 but survived a referendum. Still, his popularity has declined steeply, and he faces tougher odds this time.

One major reason is that the Ponta-led government changed the law this week to make it easier to oust Basescu from office. Now, a simple majority of votes cast is needed to push him out. Before, a majority of all voters in Romania was required.

Upon hearing of the impeachment, hundreds of Romanians rallied in downtown Bucharest to cheer the news, while others gathered to express their disappointment.

Unlike presidencies in many other European nations, Basescu’s position is not merely ceremonial. He was elected in a popular vote and is in charge of foreign policy, the powerful intelligence services, and heads the country’s defense policies.

Earlier this week, Ponta issued a decree reducing the powers of the Constitutional Court with regard to its ruling on parliamentary laws. Also in recent weeks, Ponta ignored the Constitutional Court’s ruling that Basescu, not he, should represent Romania at a European Union summit.

Those actions and others have prompted statements of concern from Romanian allies.