Iran reformists call for reversal of candidate ban

Iran’s reformist political factions are calling on the country’s constitutional watchdog to reverse its decision to disqualify large numbers of moderates and reformists from running in next month’s parliamentary elections.

An official from an Iranian council of reformists said that only 30 of 3,000 contenders from the reformist camp, which advocates for greater political and economic freedoms, have been allowed to participate in February’s election.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that “those who don’t have faith in the clerical establishment, should not be allowed to perform a duty”.

“What I said does not mean that those who don’t believe in the regime should be sent to the Parliament”.

Fundamentalist parliament member, Ali Mathari, accused the Guardian council of deciding and interfering in the elections’ outcome and the future parliament through latest act of refusing the eligibility of most candidates.

The Guardian Council, an extremely influential body in Iranian politics, determines who may run for public office and holds the power to veto any bills passed by the Iranian parliament.

Rouhani and many USA policymakers have been hoping that the Reformist candidates would make substantial gains in Parliament.

“The glorious days of securing the rights of the Iranian nation and victory in nuclear negotiations after 12 years of tides and ebbs and thirty months of breath-taking negotiations have to be greeted to the grand nation of Iranians”, Rouhani opened the address referring to the implementation of the JCPOA.

The lifting of worldwide sanctions on Iran on Saturday has bolstered the popularity of Rouhani. Iran’s success in winning an end to worldwide sanctions in exchange for curbing its disputed nuclear program is expected to intensify a power struggle within an elite split into conservative and moderate-reformist factions.

He said was sending Vice-President Eshagh Jahangiri to consult with the Guardian Council over the issue as “talks and consultations are the best way” to settle the dispute. The council is now studying complaints from those barred as reported by the Asian Age.

Mr Rouhani, speaking in Tehran to an audience of provincial governors, appeared to criticise the Guardian Council, the committee that so far has barred around 60 per cent of candidates in total.

In a televised speech, Hassan Rouhani said parliament was 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”.