The editor in chief and other 80 journalists with the most circulated tabloid in Romania resigned on Monday in order to join the media team now under construction by a controversial businessman and top politician.

Most of those who resigned from Swiss Ringier owned Libertatea are expected to switch to Averea, currently a small circulation tabloid, which is to be bought by oil mogul and Liberal Dinu Patriciu. Averea director confirms negotiations for the sale of 85% of the newspapers’ shares are taking place.

Patriciu plans to re-launch Averea tabloid as part of its bigger plans to build a media trust which will compete with main media groups in Romania. The politician, now under investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Office, has bought Adevarul, one of the main broadsheets on the market, following the acquisition of smaller circulation outlets. Patriciu also plans to launch a second daily and two television stations

Ringier has previously confronted with similar waves of resignations in two of its most famous newsrooms of broadsheet Evenimentul Zilei and sports daily ProSport.