The leader of Romania’s ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) has suggested US financier George Soros ordered his assassination last year.

Liviu Dragnea told the pro-government TV station Antena 3 that four foreign men stayed in Bucharest for three weeks in April 2017 and “got close to him”.

He gave no further details of their approach, but said the four had been paid by “a very famous person in the world”. Asked if he was thinking of Mr Soros, Mr Dragnea replied: “I am not thinking of him, he is thinking of me”. 

It is not the first time he has alleges Mr Soros’ interference in Romanian affairs. Last year he said allegations of corruption against him in the media were spread by the Jewish busiessman, whom he called “a malefic character”.

Mr Dragnea is appealing a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence for corruption. He has already a served suspended sentence for vote rigging in 2012, which prevented him from being nominated for Prime Minister in 2016. 

He is widely seen as the most powerful politician in the country, with his the PSD government and parliamentary majority locked in a bitter cohabitation with centre-right President Klaus Iohannis. 

With presidential elections due next year Mr Dragnea is seen as desperate to clear his name in order to be able to challenge Mr Iohannis in the poll.

The PSD was recently accused of brutally repressing a very large anti-government demonstration on August 10 where tear-gas was widely used.

Mr Soros has been a hate-figure in other former Communist countries such as his native Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused him of wanting to flood Europe with Muslims ahead of a referendum against EU-imposed quotas for immigrants.