Azerbaijan, Baku, 4 March / Trend corr. G.Jabiyev / The opposition party Azerbaijani National Independent Party (ANIP) may boycott the upcoming presidential elections. The presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan in October 2008. "The issue to boycott the elections will be discussed during a party meeting," Ali Orujev, ANIP Chairman's secretary stated to trend News.
Under a decision made by the ANIP Central Council in early February, a meeting must be held within 45 days. The new chairman of the party is expected to be named during the meeting.
If the current election conditions are not changed, ANIP will boycott the elections. Orujev believes that favorable conditions must be created for equal competition among candidates. "If the meeting participants support participation in the presidential elections we will define the name of a candidate," Orujev said.
Etibar Mammadov, the party leader did not make the decision to participate in the elections yet. If Mammadov is to participate in the elections, ANIP will create an election bloc around Mammadov's candidature.
ANIP was the first party to receive registration in Azerbaijan in 1992. Etibar Mammadov was the founder and chairman of the party until 2004. Mammadov is currently the Deputy Chairman of the International Democratic Alliance.