Azerbaijan, Baku, 7 July / corr. Trend E.Babayev / Issue on participation in the upcoming presidential elections caused disagreements in the oppositional Azerbaijani National Independence Party (ANIP).
"I do not share the opinion of Fuad Mukhtarov, Secretary General of the party, and I am for participation in the elections," Ali Orujov, the deputy chairman of the ANIP, told Trend on 7 July.
The presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan on 15 October. The Musavat Party nominated Isa Gambar, the Azerbaijani Democratic Party (ADP) - Sardar Jaliloglu and the Green Party - Mais Gulaliyev, the Azerbaijani Unified Popular Front Party - Gudrat Hasanguliyev, and Muasir Musavat - Hafiz Hajiyev. Eldar Namazov, the head of Social Forum of 'For Azerbaijan' will participate independently in the elections.
The ruling New Azerbaijan Party intends to nominate Ilham Aliyev, its chairman and the current Azerbaijani President. The pro-governmental Ana Veten and the Social Prosperity Parties decided to support Aliyev's candidature in the elections.
Azadlig bloc, uniting three oppositional parties (the Popular Front, the Civil Development and the Liberal party), stated that they would boycott the elections. A final decision will be taken after discussions at the Majlis [Assembly] of the bloc.
Mukhtarov, Secretary General of the ANIP, is for boycotting the elections. "I think Etibar Mammadov, the lieder of the ANIP, will not participate in the elections. We will more probably decide not to join the elections," he said.
Orujov considers that they can make people more active through their participation in the elections. He said that currently this issue was under discussions at local organizations of the ANIP.
The ANIP was established in 1992 and is the first officially registered party. Mammadov was a founder and chairman of this party until 2004. At present, Mammadov is the deputy chairman of the International Democratic Society.
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