Parliamentary Deputy of Rouhani: According to the Government, There Are 18 Female Representatives in the Parliament

Majid Ansari, the parliamentary deputy of the Iranian President, on Tuesday referred to the situation of Minou Khalighi, the third elected representative from Isfahan whose votes were declared invalid by the Guardian Council. He stated that according to President Hassan Rouhani's government, there are 18 female representatives in the parliament and that 'only the representatives of the people in the parliament can determine the fate of the elected representatives.' According to ISNA, Majid Ansari, speaking at a ceremony in Islamshahr, said: 'From the perspective of the government and the President, there are 18 female representatives in the parliament, and only the representatives of the people can determine the fate of the elected representatives.' Minou Khalighi, supported by the Reformist Coalition, managed to secure her seat in the first round of parliamentary elections from Isfahan on March 7 by obtaining the necessary votes. However, the Guardian Council invalidated her votes after the elections on March 7. No reason has yet been provided for the invalidation of Khalighi's votes, but unofficial reports suggest that she was photographed shaking hands with a man during a trip to China. With the conclusion of the Iranian parliamentary elections in two rounds, it has now been confirmed that 18 women have been elected to the parliament, marking a record in the history of the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Majid Ansari, referring to the election of 18 female representatives to the Islamic Consultative Assembly, stated on Tuesday: 'We must also congratulate women for breaking records this term by bringing 18 female representatives into the parliament. However, this number is not sufficient, and if we do not say half of the parliament's composition, at least one-third of the future parliament's composition should be targeted for women.' The parliamentary deputy of the Iranian President emphasized that from the viewpoint of the President and the government, there are 18 female representatives in the parliament, not 18 minus one. He stated that the constitution is the ultimate reference in the country and must be adhered to everywhere. Therefore, according to the constitution, a candidate who receives approval from the Guardian Council during the qualification phase and is voted for by the people can enter the parliament. He noted that once a candidate is elected by the people, the assessment of their status and background is entrusted to the Islamic Consultative Assembly, and according to the internal regulations of the parliament, the evaluation of this individual's documents after their election is the responsibility of the parliament, which will be assessed during the review of credentials. Majid Ansari emphasized that only the representatives of the people in the parliament can determine the fate of the elected representatives and will make the final decision after reviewing their credentials. Regarding Minou Khalighi's situation, President Hassan Rouhani also recently stated, citing the constitution of the Islamic Republic, that 'only the parliament can review the credentials of representatives, and no other institution can intervene in this matter.'