AKIPRESS.COM - Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Tudose resigned on Monday after his own party abandoned him in an internal power struggle with the party's all-powerful chairman who, himself, is barred from political office because of a vote-rigging conviction, DWreported.

The political battle in the Social Democratic Party (PSD) came into public view last week after Tudose called on his Interior Minister Carmen Dan to resign, accusing her of lying. She refused and sought the backing of party kingpin Liviu Dragnea.

The party faithful rallied around Dragnea on Monday, forcing the prime minister to step down.

"The vote was overwhelming, to dismiss Prime Minister Tudose," one member of the PSD's leadership told Reuters by telephone.

Tudose, 50, said he was leaving "with my head high," and planned to clean out his office Monday night, just six months after taking office.

Tudose told reporters after the party vote: "I did not want to break the party. They named me, they removed me. I take responsibility for my deeds and I do not regret anything in my actions (as premier)."