Elections, participation and national security

According to the Principle 6 of Iran's constitution, the country’s affairs must be handled in accordance to the public votes (election or referendum), based on which the people’s vote plays a pivotal role in how to manage the country.

In other words, according to an affirmation by the constitution, ballot boxes, as a national covenant is the only way towards materialization of proposed objectives which can meet the people’s demands in all areas. This is the point that has clearly demonstrated its effectiveness over the last 40 years. 

The following is an article in this regard by 'Mohammad Ghaderi' under the heading: "Elections, participation and national security." The article was taken from the website of Iran's English language daily 'Tehran Times.'

Democratic establishments in the entire political structures worldwide have been founded based the people’s votes and views. It is for these reasons that people are considered the most main component in political, social, economic and cultural developments.

Normally, the most important component in analyzing the degree of a political establishment’s admissibility and legitimacy can be drawn based on the percentage of the people’s participation in elections to determine their own fate and set the path for future by voting for their own favored candidates. 

The Islamic Republic of Iran, which was established based on the people’s will following the victory of the Islamic Revolution and overthrow of the despotic Pahlavi regime in 1979, is not an exception. The entire affairs in the ruling system in Iran have been founded based to religious democracy. 

According to the Principle 6 of the constitution, the country’s affairs must be handled in accordance to the public votes (election or referendum), based on which the people’s vote plays a pivotal role in how to manage the country. 

In other words, according to an affirmation by the constitution, ballot boxes, as a national covenant is the only way towards materialization of proposed objectives which can meet the people’s demands in all areas. This is the point that has clearly demonstrated its effectiveness over the last 40 years. 

Based on the abovementioned issue, it can be understood that involving people in Iran in managing affairs is of high importance at least from two aspects:

1. The people’s active role in envisioning their future and meeting their demands;
2. Admissibility of the political establishment and symbol of unity and national solidarity. 

The importance of these two issues will be more obvious when we realize that the concept of national security in a democratic establishment is highly dependent on public participation. It is because these components that guarantee and reinvigorate the national security rely on the confidence principle as the most prominent pillar of the social wealth in any political establishment whose main sign is the percentage of public participation.

The people’s involvement is only one side of a coin in democratic establishments. The other side of the coin is the role of the ruling system and political structure. The system, in coordination with the people, is tasked to fulfill its role properly.   

Accordingly, as the people’s role in this regard is vital, the role of ruling system is even more vital. 

It should be mentioned that proper fulfillment of roles by a ruling system’s pillars in legislating, supervising and executing affairs are essential in order to meet the people’s demands in the best way possible. In turn, this will ease living conditions, meet the people’s social and economic demands, and prevent spread of corruption and will ultimately bring about social justice.  

Candidates have filed their nomination for the 11th Iranian parliamentary elections scheduled for February 21, 2020.

Iran's Interior Ministry said that the registration ended on December 7 and that election executive committees should be set up in constituencies within six days. The upcoming elections, which are the 11th since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, will be held in over 200 constituencies across the country's 31 provinces.

The parliamentary hopefuls will be screened for their qualifications by Iran’s vetting body, the Guardian Council, after filing their certificates of candidacy.

Recently, Iran's Deputy Interior Minister Jamal Orf said the ministry had trained staff for registration and relevant procedures.

He said “The entire staff, responsible for holding the elections, including 2,000 governors and district governors, have been trained … our colleagues went to provinces and trained the relevant workers.”

He added “We staged an online executive exercise at the Interior Ministry and contacted the entire governorships to review and resolve their problems." 

The Iranian parliament has 290 members who are elected by the people for four-year terms. Ali Larijani, a three-time speaker, has announced that he will not run for the parliament.

February 21, 2020 will also feature an interim election for Iran’s Assembly of Experts, whose members are directly elected to office by the people for an eight-year term. 

The Assembly elects and oversees the activities of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, and is in a position of authority to either appoint or dismiss the Leader.

The entrants are registering their candidacy during December 6-12.

ME