The president of the Democratic Party (PDM) Pavel Filip said the number of persons who left the party’s local organizations in Orhei and Briceni is actually lower than it was reported. There are the former Democrats Andronachi and Nikiforchuk behind those defections that were hatched following angers after the parliamentary group of the PDM didn’t agree to vote an amendment proposed by Nikiforchuk, by which schemes with cigarettes were introduced, IPN reports.

In a press briefing, Pavel Filip said the political situation was discussed in a meeting with the heads of the PDM’s local organizations, members of the Executive Bureau and the party’s representatives in the Cabinet on August 26. Earlier, the press reported that the members of the PDM’s local organization in Orhei left the party, but only two Democrats left in fact - Ion Frunză, who actually represented the party Pro Moldova already, and Petru Știrbate, a former member of the Liberal Democratic Party who joined the Democratic Party and daily asked for the post of hospital director.

The politician said he paid a visit to Briceni where 17 members reportedly left the PDM. “Indeed, there was held a meeting in which 12 persons took part and said that they will definitely not leave, but only two signed,” stated Pavel Filip, noting those things happened because of financial interests.

The politician also said that in the same meeting with the heads of the PDM’s local organizations, there was presented a poll commissioned by the party. There will be carried out several other assessments and the National Political Council at the start of September will take a decision as to the presidential elections.