Many Iranian reformist candidates disqualified for the legislative elections

Text by: RFI Follow

The election campaign for the February 21 legislative elections has started in Iran. Some 7,148 candidates were approved and 7,296 candidates were disqualified by the Council of Guardians of the Constitution. A difficult election for the moderates of President Hassan Rohani.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Tehran, Siavosh Ghazi

The coalition of reforming and moderate parties which supports President Hassan Rohani has denounced the rejection of many of their candidates across the country.

The main outgoing reforming deputies, known for their criticism of the government, were disqualified by the Council of Guardians of the Constitution, a body controlled by the Conservatives.

Reform and moderate parties say they will not be able to run candidates in many regions. In Tehran, which has 30 seats, the reformers decided not to present a common list.

Parliament hopes for Conservative takeover

President Rohani, who called on voters to participate massively in the elections, also fears a demobilization of the moderate electorate very disappointed by the economic and political record of his government.

Since the withdrawal of the United States from the nuclear deal in 2018, the economic situation has continued to deteriorate. Inflation is well over 40%, which has caused great discontent among the population. The conservatives count on the demobilization of moderate voters to take control of parliament, less than two years from the presidential election.

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• Iran
• Hassan Rohani

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