Romania’s prime minister has resigned after his party withdrew its support amid a power struggle with the group’s chairman.

The ruling left-wing Social Democratic Party withdrew its support for Mihai Tudose after a meeting lasting more than five hours.

Mr Tudose, 50, said he was quitting “with my head high” just over six months after he took office.

Party chairman Liviu Dragnea cannot be prime minister due to a conviction for vote-rigging.

Separately, prosecutors froze Mr Dragnea’s assets in November amid a probe into the misuse of European Union funds. He denies wrongdoing.

The conflict became public last week after Mr Tudose called on interior minister Carmen Dan to resign, accusing her of lying, and she refused.

Ms Dan is a close ally of Mr Dragnea.

Social Democratic Party officials said development minister Paul Stanescu would serve as interim prime minister.

Mr Tudose is the second prime minister ousted by the Social Democrats since they won Romania’s December 2016 general election.

Mr Dragnea said 60 Social Democratic lawmakers voted to withdraw their support for the prime minister, four supported him and four abstained.

Mr Tudose’s resignation comes as Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe is scheduled to visit Romania on Tuesday.

Mr Abe is on a six-country European tour that has taken him to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria.

The Social Democrats plan to meet to decide on a new candidate for prime minister, who would need to be formally proposed by President Klaus Iohannis and then voted on by parliament.

The Social Democrats ousted their previous prime minister, Sorin Grindeanu, in June with a vote of no-confidence.