Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who is running for a new term, said on Monday the country needs new parties and independent media.

“We need parties that would consolidate the nation, inspire the people to creative work to ensure the further thriving of our Motherland,” he said on national television, presenting his program as a presidential candidate.

Presidential elections in Turkmenistan are due to take place on February 12.

Berdymukhamedov, who has been in office since December 2006, is the leader of the country’s only political party, the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, which was established in 1991.