Leader Declares Election Policies

Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei outlined the Islamic Republic’s policies on elections devised in consultation with the Assembly of Experts and in line with the Iranian Constitution’s Article 110.

The 80-member clerical assembly is tasked with selecting the Leader and monitoring his performance.

According to the policies, a runoff is held when candidates in parliamentary polls fail to secure more than 50% of the votes, IRNA reported.

All candidates enjoy equal access to media, Internet and other public facilities for campaigning.

The candidates’ sources of funding for their campaigns will be investigated and verified by relevant authorities.

Measures will be taken to deter and counter smear campaigns and other acts against national security during the campaigning period.

Parties and their candidates are required to act responsibly within a framework based on the principles of the Islamic Republic to ensure the highest possible public turnout.

Qualifications required for candidacy will be specified based on the Islamic Republic’s Constitution, which include absolute loyalty to Velayat-e Faqih (the rule of supreme jurisprudent) and an unblemished public record.

The Guardians Council, a 12-member body that comprises experts in Islamic law and an equal number of jurists tasked with examining the qualifications of candidates for any election, is to perform its vetting responsibility based on a precisely defined mechanism and schedule.

It is to provide clear explanations in writing about its decisions to disqualify candidates upon their request.

The electoral watchdog’s decision to exclude an overwhelming number of prominent reformist candidates and some moderates from standing in the February nationwide parliamentary elections sparked off a debate in political circles on the procedure used by the supervisory body to perform its electoral duties.