Romania’s de facto leader strengthened his grip on power by helping elevate an ally to a pivotal post within the ruling party, Bloomberg reports.

Social Democrat boss Liviu Dragnea’s proposal to make Prime Minister Viorica Dancila executive president was approved Saturday by the party’s congress, which is usually convened every four years, after two other candidates withdrew before the vote. The move will firm up Dragnea’s control of the Social Democrats as he continues to fight a conviction for vote-rigging that’s preventing him from becoming premier himself.

“Romania’s sovereignty is more precious than any fight for power, than any local interest and that’s why we’ll protect it through explicit laws, debated and voted in Parliament,” Dragnea said. “While respecting the western countries that help us modernize our country, I strongly say that the design of our national sovereignty must be done here and not outside the country. ”

Despite a landslide victory in elections in 2016, the Social Democrats have been roiled by infighting that’s brought three prime ministers in little more than a year. Dragnea is seeking to steady the ship as the Black Sea nation’s economy slows from the one of the highest growth rates in the world last year.

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