Azerbaijan, Baku, July 12 / Trend T.Hajiyev /
Azerbaijani National Independence Party (ANIP) leader Yusif Bagirzade said that the heads of parties should withdraw from active politics after losing in the parliamentary elections.
"I think they should withdraw from active politics," he said. "ANIP leader Etibar Mammadov was the first to do so, and this should be an example for other parties. Parties must reform."
The ANIP held a congress Saturday and elected Bagirzade as the party's chairman.
Former Chairman Etibar Mammadov twice ran for president. After losing in 2003, Mammadov resigned. Liberal Party chairman Lala Shovket also resigned after several electoral defeats.
Bagirzade said if party leaders want the opposition to unite, then reforms must be made.
The ANIP was established in 1992. Since 1995, the party has cooperated with the International Democratic Union, which unites 82 center-right parties from 36 countries.
Parliamentary elections will be held in Azerbaijan Nov. 7, 2010. Previous elections were held in November 2005. The elections are held according to the majority system in Azerbaijan's 125 constituencies.
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