Liberal vice president Anatol Petrencu announced today he was quitting the party. He told Info-Prim Neo that he decided to leave because the felt marginalized at the recent events organized by the party. For his part, Liberal leader Mihai Ghimpu issued a press statement saying Petrenco left because of the frustration at not having a high office in state institutions. Petrencu said that he found out from the press that on December 15 the party held in Chisinau an international conference “Liberals – the engine of Moldova’s European integration”, with the participation of the Liberal Party’s main figures and of the leadership of the Institute of Liberal Studies. However, he wasn’t invited despite his position as PL vice president and membership in the Institute of Liberal Studies. Anatol Petrencu added that this wasn’t the only case when he was marginalized. He has no definite plans as yet and will make a decision regarding his further actions later. In response, the Liberal Party leadership issued a press release refuting Anatol Petrencu’s arguments regarding his marginalization in the party. “I think the true reason behind Anatol Petrencu’s departure from PL is his frustration at not having a high position in the state institutions. The Liberal Party supports its members according to possibilities: we don’t force anyone into or out of the party”, said Mihai Ghimpu. Anatol Petrencu was the founder of the European Action Movement (MAE). The party merged with the Liberal Party before the parliamentary elections in November 2010. On March 13, 2011, Petrencu was elected PL vice president.