COPENHAGEN, Denmark, September 09, SPA -- Denmark's Conservative deputyPrime minister said Tuesday he was leaving the center-rightgovernment to run for a seat in the European Parliamentnext year. Bendtsen, a former police detective who has been a memberof Denmark's two-party center-right government since 2001,said he was stepping down as leader of his party and alsoas Denmark's economy minister and deputy prime minister. «It is time for a change of generations in theConservative Party,» Bendtsen, 54, told reporters. «Ihave been thinking about it for a while and the right timehas come.» Justice Minister Lene Espersen replaced Bendtsen asConservative leader. It was not immediately clear who wouldassume Bendtsen's role in the Cabinet, the Associated Press reported. Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he would holdtalks with Espersen later Tuesday to discuss a governmentreshuffle.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/588704