Moldova’s Agriculture Minister, Radu Musteata, resigned on Friday, just three days after taking office, following media reports linking him to the Democratic Party formerly led by convicted businessman Vladimir Plahotniuc.
Musteata, who is not currently affiliated with any political party, categorically denied ever being a member of the Democratic Party.
However, local media published photographs showing him at party events, including one in which he was presented with what was described as a party membership card.
Prime Minister Vasile Tofan accepted Musteata’s resignation on Friday, days after the new cabinet was approved by parliament on Tuesday.
Explaining his decision, Musteata said he stepped down to preserve public confidence in the government as it embarks on a series of key reforms.
“The government must, in the near future, ensure that a number of important and complex reforms are carried out… and, in order to maintain public confidence, I felt it was my duty to tender my resignation,” he wrote on social media.
The controversy comes amid renewed scrutiny of Plahotniuc, who led the Democratic Party between 2016 and 2019.
In April, Plahotniuc was sentenced to 19 years in prison over his role in a $1 billion banking fraud scandal, widely regarded as Moldova’s largest financial crime.
Although he has denied any wrongdoing, prosecutors accused him of personally receiving millions of dollars from Moldovan banks.