Iran’s president entered a row over thousands of disqualified election candidates Thursday, taking a barely veiled swipe at a powerful committee that chooses who can run for parliament.
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In an earlier statement Khamenei had endored free and fair participation in the elections even from those who had problems with the regime. Reformists and moderates hope to form a coalition once their candidates survive the screening process. Referencing the dire security situation in the region and tumultuous oil prices, Rouhani said, “Under these conditions today, employment is the primary issue for us and competent individuals must be sent to parliament”.
“Disqualification of those who believe in the Islamic Republic, Islam and the pillars of our system… will create a deep rift between real believers of our system and the establishment”, Kaleme quoted Ayatollah Kazem Nourmofidi as saying. Many were disqualified because they were not seen to be sufficiently loyal to the ruling system, as defined by hard-line council members.
Iran’s long-sidelined reformist movement on Monday demanded a review after only one percent of its parliamentary election candidates were approved, prompting allegations turnout would suffer.
Rouhani is aiming to accelerate political and social reforms he promised before being elected in 2013, an outcome more likely if there are fewer hardline conservatives in parliament to block his legislation.
Barring moderates from running is seen as a tactic by hard-liners anxious that Rouhani’s success in lifting sanctions under a landmark nuclear deal with world powers will give moderates an electoral boost. “I will use all my power to protect the rights of candidates”.
On her behalf, Elham Aminzadeh lawmaker and vice president of Iran said that Rouhani is planning to ask the Gaurdian Council to reconsider the rejected candidates.
The council is now studying complaints from those barred.
Speaking in Tehran to an audience of provincial governors he implied that only conservatives should not contest the election for seats in parliament.
Rouhani says that “the Parliament is the house of the people, not a particular faction”. He added that his administration is a “moderate” one, and though he would prefer parliament to be made up of moderate politicians, his administration will not interfere with other groups’ candidates.
“No official without the vote of the people would be legitimate”.
“The executors and observers should pay attention that the framework of law is respected”, Rouhani said, drawing a contrast between minority representation and the exclusion of larger groups.
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Dr Ahmed Shaheed, the United Nations Special Rapportuer on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran, wrote in a piece published on his website on Wednesday: “Iran is one of a handful of countries that still executes child offenders, or boys and girls under 18 years of age at the time they commit a crime”.
