Minister of Youth and Sport Octavian Bodisteanu on November 13 announced that he joined the Democratic Party (PDM) after defecting from the Liberal Reformist Party (PLR) last week, IPN reports.

Bodisteanu told a news conference that he made this choice because of all the political parties, only the PDM supports sports the most. “As Minister of Youth and Sport, I initiated a number of large-scale projects and thus need reliable partners. The PDM is a reliable partner that will help us implement these projects,” he stated.

As to the defection from the PLR, which proposed him for the post of minister, Bodisteanu said that he didn’t want to play the game of those who hit the coalition partners.

In the news conference, the minister was accompanied by a group of coaches and athletes who said that they support the PDM in the parliamentary elections and also intend to join it.