Romania's Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely on Thursday ( April 5 ) resigned, amid accusations from the country's National Anti-Corruption Body (DNA). Borbely headed the ministry responsible for granting the environmental approval for projects like Rosia Montana gold mine and Chevron's shale gas exploration and exploitation.

Borbely met Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureau on Thursday morning to talk about the corruption accusations.

The DNA started a file against Borbely for having forged his wealth statements and not declaring some of his possessions. He is also accused of influence trading in awarding a contract to a company, allegedly for some EUR 200,000 worth of refurbishing for an apartment that belongs to one of Borbely's relatives .

The DNA has asked the prosecutors to start the procedures and send Borbely to court.

Political commentators say the recent accusations might have surfaced as Borbely delayed giving environmental clearance to projects such as the much-debated Rosia Montana and Chevron's shale gas projects.

Borbely has run the Environment Ministry since December 2010. In the past, he was Minister of Development as well as Minister of Transport. He is an MP and vice-president of the the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR).

editor@romania-insider.com