Concerns Among Security Figures of the Islamic Republic Over Decreased Participation in Parliamentary Elections

Ali Rabiei, former Minister of Labor, spokesman for Hassan Rouhani's government, and former Deputy Minister of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic, has stated that "unlike previous periods, as we get closer to the elections, the level of participation is decreasing." According to the news website "Khabar Online," he referred to some polling data from "ISPA," affiliated with the Jihad University, adding that by combining the number of "definite participants" with half of those who are "likely to participate," we arrive at a figure of about 32% (participation), which Rabiei believes is a "more accurate figure." The Islamic Consultative Assembly elections will be held on Friday, March 2, 2024, simultaneously with the sixth round of the "Assembly of Experts" elections to select representatives for the twelfth term of the parliament (290 representatives for a four-year term). According to official announcements from the Islamic Republic's state institutions, the participation rate in the previous parliamentary elections, which took place on June 18, 2021, was reported to be "48.8%"—the lowest participation rate recorded in the last four decades. The end of the "resignation" show behind closed doors; "Naderan" remained in the parliament. A "principlist" activist criticized the presence of "retired members of a security-political organization" in the executive bodies of the elections. Disqualification of representatives of the "Revolutionary Parliament"; Ahmad Khatami warned against "questioning the system."