Chief alleged to have used EU funds for crime group

Romanian anti-corruption prosecutorshavelaunched a new criminal investigation into the chairman of the country’s ruling party on suspicion that he misused European Union funds.

The prosecutors’ office said in a statement that Liviu Dragnea was suspected of official misconduct for setting up an organised crime group and forging documents to illicitly obtain EU funds. Eight others are being investigated in the same case.

Mr Dragnea leads the Social Democratic party, but cannot be premier due to a 2016 conviction for vote-rigging.

The latest allegations concern misuse of funds from 2001-12 when he headed the Teleorman county council in southern Romania. Mr Dragnea said cases against him were politically motivated.