As Iran’s parliamentary elections approach, campaigns for candidates have commenced, promising a competitive electoral process.
With campaigns running until February 29, a record number of around 15,200 candidates have been approved to compete for the 290 seats in Parliament.
Scheduled for March 1, these elections will also determine new members of the Assembly of Experts, with the new parliament expected to form in late May.
This election cycle follows the 2020 parliamentary elections, the last held before the assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani by the US.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi has emphasized the need for candidates and supporters to adhere to legal frameworks and maintain discipline throughout the campaigning period, urging them to avoid any actions that could tarnish the electoral process.
Many candidates, particularly in smaller constituencies, have backgrounds in professions such as medicine, engineering, civil service, and teaching, without strong affiliations to political groups.
In the Tehran constituency, 3,545 candidates are vying for seats.
Current parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has announced his intention to run from his hometown in the remote northeast, having previously won a seat in Tehran four years ago.
In the Assembly of Experts election, 144 clerics are competing for the 88-seat council, which serves as an advisory body to the leader of the Islamic Revolution. Unlike the four-year term of parliament members, Assembly members serve for eight years.
The Assembly, as mandated by the Iranian constitution, is responsible for monitoring the country’s leader and selecting his successor.
In this context, assembly member and President Ebrahim Raisi will seek re-election in the assembly from the South Khorasan province.
On Sunday, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, urged high turnout in the elections.
“It is important to choose the best person, but the priority is for people to participate,” his eminence said, emphasizing that political differences should not divide the national unity of the people in the face of adversaries.
“Elections are the cornerstone of the Islamic Republic. The way to reform the country is through elections.”
“Once, a US president called on the Iranian nation to boycott elections. In response, people participated with even greater enthusiasm. While they no longer make this call directly, they still try to discourage people from participating in elections using various methods,” the leader remarked.
The Guardian Council has provided the Interior Ministry with a list of qualified candidates, which includes 1,713 women, twice the number who competed in the 2020 elections.
In anticipation of the upcoming nationwide elections in Iran on March 1, the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic has assigned a staggering 190,000 Police forces to ensure the security of the event.
General Saeed Montazer almahdi, the spokesman for the Law Enforcement Command, stated that it is the responsibility of the Police to safeguard the elections as mandated by law. In addition to the Police forces, cooperation with other security organizations, such as the Basij units, will be instrumental in ensuring a safe and secure election day.
Furthermore, the Police have been carrying out due diligence in screening the backgrounds of candidates. At the request of the Constitutional Council, 48,000 applicants were reviewed in the initial stage, followed by 24,000 in the final stage.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
