Azerbaijan, Baku, 10 November/ Trend , corr A. Huseynbala/ Azerbaijan's opposition party says lifting restrictions on the number of presidential term of office is possible.
"Though the issue of extending term of presidential office was raised ahead of time, changes can be made into the Constitution when it is high time," Chingiz Damiroglu, chief of opposition Tereqqi (Evolution) Party said to Trend .
According to Item 5 of Article 101 of Azerbaijan's Constitution, a person can not run for presidency more than twice. The term of presidential office is five years.
Siyavush Novruzov, deputy executive secretary of governing New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) said to Trend last week that he has proposed to extend term of presidential office.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev proposed Federal Council last week to extend presidential terms from four years to six years, and term of parliament from four years to five years. Some experts say there is a need in Azerbaijan to extend presidential term and lift restrictions on the number of presidential terms.
Damiroglu said it would be premature to raise the question of extension of presidential term now.
"Ilham Aliyev gained an opportunity to serve as a President for another five years in the 15 October presidential election. If the head of state achieves rapid resolution of problems left from the previous term, it can be necessary in 2013 to lift restrictions in order to enable him to run for presidency one more time," Damiroglu said.
"Ilham Aliyev proved in his first tenure that he does not have alternative. Azerbaijan developed at fast paces and achieved great success. Therefore I support lifting restrictions which do not allow to run for presidency more than twice," MP Fazail Agamali, chief of the pro-government Ana Vatan Party said to Trend .
Agamali said Ilham Aliyev has already gained the status of new leader of Azerbaijan in a new century. "When Ilham Aliyev completes his second term of office, he will be 52. It would be unfair not to allow a politician, who increased Azerbaijan's authority all over the world day-by-day, to no to be elected president once again at prime of his life," chief of Ana Vatan party said.
"Now it is wrong to raise the question of lifting restriction stipulated by the Constitution simply for the presidency of one person," chief of opposition Vahdat (Unity) Party Tahir Karimli said to Trend .
One should think over whether this decision will be in favor of Ilham Aliyev. It is difficult to say something as the head of state has not reacted to the proposal yet. I think opposing Constitution and laws can harm image of the state," Karimli said.
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