At least four members of the Communists Party (PCRM) have decided to leave its ranks and join the Democratic Party (PDM). The statement was made on July 1 at a news conference held by Veaceslav Bastritchi and the Moldovan karate sportswoman, Silvia Pargaru, Info-Prim Neo reports. The two live in Sangera (Chisinau municipality) and say they worked a lot in the previous electoral race to bring as many as possible votes to the Communists in their town, managing to secure 32% of the ballots. They are unhappy that the former Communist, Marian Lupu, was not proposed by the PCRM to run for the office of head of state. “We used to be told there was a successor, a worthy and experienced person. We understood they meant Marian Lupu,” said Veaceslav Bastritchi. He meant the messages conveyed by the central staff of the PCRM to the local staffs rolling the campaign in their localities. The two have been members of the PCRM for two years. “I left because I see no growth in the PCRM,” said Moldova's karate female champion. “All the decisions within the PCRM are made and controlled by the old skeleton from the CPSU (Communist Party of the Soviet Union),” Bastritchi said. Veaceslav Bastritchi expects that some 10 % of the PCRM members – backers of former speaker Marian Lupu – may abandon the ruling party. “But many are afraid, they got kids,” he said. Veaceslav Bastritchi and Silvia Pargaru have said other colleagues of theirs will also join the PDM, where Marian Lupu already is heading the list for the July 29 elections. Contacted over the phone, the PCRM's press service did not answer the calls.