TEHRAN: Candidates have started campaigning for Iran’s parliamentary election, which is the first since the violent crackdown on the nationwide protests in 2022. These protests were triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who died in police custody. The election will see 15,200 candidates vying for a four-year term in the 290-seat chamber, which has been under the control of hardliners for the past two decades.This is a record number of candidates, more than double the number in the previous election in 2020, which had the lowest voter turnout since 1979.
Amini was arrested by Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the country’s strict headscarf law. Her death led to the protests, with demonstrators calling for the overthrow of Iran’s clerical rulers. The crackdown that followed resulted in the deaths of over 500 people and the arrest of nearly 20,000 individuals, according to human rights activists.
The Guardian Council, a clerical body responsible for overseeing elections, has approved the 15,200 candidates and forwarded their names to the interior ministry for the upcoming election. Half of the Council members are directly appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Notably, there are 1,713 women among the candidates, more than double the number in the previous election.
The election is scheduled for March 1, and the newly elected parliament will convene in late May. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the current parliament speaker, will be running for election from his hometown, which suggests a decline in his popularity. Qalibaf has faced criticism for ignoring the rights of other parliament members and turning a blind eye to corruption during his tenure as Tehran mayor.
Meanwhile, President Ebrahim Raisi, who is an incumbent assembly member, will seek reelection in a remote constituency in South Khorasan province. He will be competing against a relatively unknown cleric. Additionally, there will be a simultaneous election for the 88-seat Assembly of Experts, where 144 clerics will compete. This assembly serves as an advisory body to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and is responsible for choosing his successor.
Amini was arrested by Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the country’s strict headscarf law. Her death led to the protests, with demonstrators calling for the overthrow of Iran’s clerical rulers. The crackdown that followed resulted in the deaths of over 500 people and the arrest of nearly 20,000 individuals, according to human rights activists.
The Guardian Council, a clerical body responsible for overseeing elections, has approved the 15,200 candidates and forwarded their names to the interior ministry for the upcoming election. Half of the Council members are directly appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Notably, there are 1,713 women among the candidates, more than double the number in the previous election.
The election is scheduled for March 1, and the newly elected parliament will convene in late May. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the current parliament speaker, will be running for election from his hometown, which suggests a decline in his popularity. Qalibaf has faced criticism for ignoring the rights of other parliament members and turning a blind eye to corruption during his tenure as Tehran mayor.
Meanwhile, President Ebrahim Raisi, who is an incumbent assembly member, will seek reelection in a remote constituency in South Khorasan province. He will be competing against a relatively unknown cleric. Additionally, there will be a simultaneous election for the 88-seat Assembly of Experts, where 144 clerics will compete. This assembly serves as an advisory body to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and is responsible for choosing his successor.
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