Europe

Romanian justice minister resigns after losing party support

Associated Press
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FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 8, 2019 file photo, Romania's Justice Minister Tudorel Toader grimaces during a two-day informal meeting of European Union Justice and Home Affairs ministers, in Bucharest Romania. Toader announced Thursday, April 18, 2019 that he resign from his position, a day after the ruling Social Democratic party withdrew its political support for him. (AP Photo/ Andreea Alexandru, File)

Romania's justice minister says he is resigning after losing the support of the governing Social Democratic Party.

Tudorel Toader says in a statement Thursday he decided to present his resignation to Prime Minister Viorica Dancila despite declaring hours earlier that he would stay in his post.

Toader's downfall was seen as linked to his failure to push through legislation that critics, including the European Union, view as intended to weaken efforts to crack down on political corruption.

Toader says he fulfilled his duty, but Dancila says Toader failed to accomplish everything he promised.

Social Democratic leader Liviu Dragnea, blocked from being prime minster because of a 2016 conviction for vote-rigging, is currently appealing a 2018 corruption conviction.