Former Romanian prime minister Victor Ponta is being investigated for alleged financial improprieties connected to another political figure's 2012 visit to Bucharest - reported to be Tony Blair.

Anti-corruption prosecutors did not identify the prominent visitor, but Sebastian Ghita - a businessman who was questioned by officials on Tuesday - told the Mediafax news agency that the probe focused on a visit by the former British prime minister.

Prosecutors also questioned Mr Ponta on Tuesday. They are alleging he misused his authority as leader of the Social Democratic Party to persuade Mr Ghita to spend€220,000 on Mr Blair's trip.

In exchange, Mr Ponta allegedly promoted the businessman within the party to help him win a parliamentary seat. Mr Ponta and Mr Ghita both deny wrongdoing.

Prosecutors' spokeswoman Livia Saplacan said that the foreign visitor is not being probed.

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