More than 5,000 to Race for Seats in Iran’s Parliament

Iran is gearing up to hold the eleventh parliamentary elections. The Guardian Council, which oversees the elections, has released the list of qualified candidates. The council has barred nearly one third of the current members of the parliament from running for the upcoming vote. Some 800 candidates were also disqualified by the Interior Ministry last month. Voters say this is good news for young and independent candidates.

Under the Iranian constitution, candidates need to get through a vetting process by the Interior Ministry and the Guardian Council before they can run for parliament. But surprisingly, some well-known members of the parliament, from among the conservatives and the reform camp, have been disqualified by the Guardian Council. 

Those disqualified have five days to challenge the Guardian Council's ruling. In the past, the Council members were rarely observed to change their mind about disqualifications. More than 5,000 people have been qualified to take part in the upcoming parliamentary elections. That makes around 17 candidates will compete for each seat at the parliament this time.

The eleventh parliamentary elections will be held on the 21st of February. 

In an interview last month, Member of Parliament (MP) Amir Hossein Qazizadeh Hashemi, from the constituency of Mashhad and Kalat in Northeastern province of Khorasan Razavi, predicted "a warm and strong" turnout at the 11th parliamentary polls scheduled for February 21, 2020.

"Naturally, because the establishment is a democratic one arisen from people's votes, the people's participation [in the elections] and support for the establishment will help increase its power and will also improve national security."

"Naturally, because the establishment is a democratic one arisen from people's votes, the people's participation [in the elections] and support for the establishment will help increase its power and will also improve national security."

He said people created "the Islamic Establishment," so they should support and preserve it.

As long as people's support continues, "the enemies' efforts to disrupt the country's situation will fail," he added.

Qazizadeh Hashemi also noted that Iranians have always actively participated in elections because of the important role the parliament and the government play in their lives.

A week earlier, Government Spokesman Ali Rabiyee said 16,033 candidates had registered for the polls, out of which 848 had submitted their withdrawal. 

From the remaining 15,185, he added, the election boards affiliated to the Interior Ministry approved the competency of 13,849 parliamentary hopefuls, 91 percent of the total.

The candidates will further be screened for their qualifications by Iran’s vetting body, the Guardian Council.

The upcoming elections, which are the 11th since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, will be held in over 200 constituencies across the country's 31 provinces.

The parliamentary hopefuls will be screened for their qualifications by Iran’s vetting body, the Guardian Council, after filing their certificates of candidacy.

The Iranian parliament has 290 members who are elected by the people for four-year terms. 

February 21, 2020 will also feature an interim election for Iran’s Assembly of Experts, whose members are directly elected to office by the people for an eight-year term. 

The assembly elects and oversees the activities of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, and is in a position of authority to either appoint or dismiss the Leader.

The entrants will register their candidacy during December 6-12.

Source:FarsNEWS