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Candidates for Majlis Elections More Than Double

Candidates for Majlis  Elections More Than Double
Candidates for Majlis  Elections More Than Double

With the registration of 12,123 candidates, the record of participation in Iranian parliamentary elections has been broken.

Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli announced the final count of candidates on Saturday, noting that the number shows a more than a twofold increase, compared with the previous legislative polls in 2012 where only 5,395 had signed up, IRNA reported.

Statistically, he said "42 people will compete for every parliamentary seat."

On the unprecedented rise in the number of candidates, Fazli said more candidates mean greater options for voters.

"I hope that our good people, by contributing to popular elections, will prove Iran's might to the world," he said.

The 10th parliamentary elections will be held on February 26, 2016, concurrent with the Assembly of Experts election.

According to Iran's electoral laws, potential candidates must be Muslim, of Iranian nationality, of good mental and physical health, between 30 and 75 years, have no criminal record, uphold the values of Islamic Republic, abide by the Iranian Constitution and hold a master's degree.

Fazli said on Friday that 801 people, 16 of whom are women, have registered for the elections, showing a 62% rise in comparison with 493 in the previous elections, which was also a record.

"This is while the proportion of candidates below the age of 50 increased from 67% to 73%, while 23 Iranians from religious minorities have signed up for candidacy," he said.

The number of senior clerics who registered for the fifth Assembly of Experts election, a high-ranking body that elects and oversees the performance of the Leader of Islamic Revolution, also broke the all-time record.

Only Islamic scholars holding the religious title of Ejtehad, or juridprudent, can be candidates for the 88-seat assembly.

The preliminary vetting process of candidates has started at the Interior Ministry on December 26 and will continue until January 4.

Disqualified candidates can appeal from January 6 to January 9, while their objections will be addressed from January 10 to January 16.

Then the Guardians Council, which is tasked with supervising the election, will begin to vet the candidates, for the second and last time.

The final list of qualified candidates will be released on February 16, 2016.

Financialtribune.com