Elections in Iran: Brilliant Diamond in the Middle East
Friday, February 21
One of the major achievements of the Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979 which overthrew the last monarch of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, is to hold free, independent, and democratic elections.
Despite authoritarian regimes in the Middle East, most of which are supported by the US and have never held an election throughout their political existence, the Islamic Republic of Iran is the first country in the region held an election on the voting bases and that has been going for more than 40 years.
Actually, it was the Islamic Revolution in Iran that gave the peoples of the Middle East the chance to taste sovereignty and political participation for the first time.
Elections in Iran are not a formality or kind of showy action, and everyone can be registered as a candidate, but the Guardian Council, as a neutral arbiter that does not benefit from the victory or defeat of any political wing or party, has legal authority to examine competence and capability of all candidates on the basis of requirements such as having a master’s degree or higher, criminal record clearance and commitment to the Islamic system and laws. Religious minority candidates - Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians are exempt from the obligation to comply with Islamic principles.
Iran’s Parliamentary Elections will be held on Friday, February 21 with the participation of more than 7000 approved candidates competing for 290 seats, with a wide range of political parties of various views and ideas, including Osul-garayan (Principalists) and Eslahtalaban (Reformists).
The prominent figures such as former mayor of Tehran Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are on the list of Osul-garayan. Eslahtalaban (Reformists), like Sazandegi (construction) Party that is close to late Hashemi Rafsanjani as well as other Reformist parties have also presented their candidates.
According to general election policy, the armed forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the intelligence and surveillance agencies, are not allowed to interfere in the election and participate in political, factional campaign, and run activities supporting or opposing candidates, and this has always been legally emphasized by the supreme leader, and as a fundamental principle, guarantees free and fair elections in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Despite the economic and livelihood challenges, the discerning people of Iran have always defended the order of the Islamic Republic and adhered to its principles and goals, which can be clearly seen in the funeral of General Suleimani or the marching to celebrate the victory of the revolution. Undoubtedly, in the coming elections, the Iranian people will have a passionate presence despite the complaints about the economic situation.
Undoubtedly, whatever the majority of the Iranian people take as a measure of national interest development, will face the opposition from the US President's campaign tools, aiming at destroying Iranian culture and the train of their cultural invasion will move on.
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Georgia
