Reformists' Policy Council Protests Widespread Disqualifications

The Reformists' Policy Council deemed the widespread disqualification and "failure to confirm qualifications" of reformist candidates and other government supporters as "unacceptable" and called on the President of Iran to fulfill his duties in "upholding the Constitution." According to ISNA news agency, members of the Reformists' Policy Council stated in a meeting on Sunday, January 17, that they would file a "legal objection" and request a review of the disqualifications. The council expressed support for the candidates' "legal right to pursue their appeal" and urged President Hassan Rouhani to carry out his responsibilities in "upholding the Constitution." The council also announced that despite the current situation, reformists and other government supporters would strive to participate in the elections to form a parliament "worthy of the Iranian nation." Hussein Marashi, a member of the Reformists' Policy Council, stated that out of three thousand reformist candidates, "only 30," or "only one percent," have been approved. Meanwhile, media outlets close to the reformists reported that in most electoral districts, all candidates from this group have been disqualified. The President of Iran, in response to the disqualification of more than half of the parliamentary candidates, stated that he would use "all his powers" in this regard. Additionally, governors of Tehran, Khuzestan, Ilam, and Hormozgan have protested against the widespread disqualifications of candidates in these provinces. According to ILNA news agency, Ali-Asghar Jamshidnejad, the political deputy of the Sistan and Baluchestan governorate, noted that 62 percent of candidates in this province were disqualified, which is "above the national average" and "questionable." Ali Shakouri-Rad, Secretary-General of the Union of Iranian Nation Party, stated on Saturday that reformists would not "boycott" the ballot boxes in response to the disqualifications and would support "independent and moderate" candidates in cities where reformist candidates are disqualified. Previously, Abdollah Nouri, Minister of Interior in Khatami's first government, had urged reformists not to "retreat" from participating in the upcoming elections even if some of them were disqualified, and that those who are approved should participate in the elections. While the executive bodies affiliated with the Ministry of Interior approved 10,954 candidates and disqualified 814 candidates, or about seven percent of the candidates, according to Nejatollah Ebrahimiann, the resigned spokesman for the Guardian Council, only "about 40 percent" of candidates were approved by the supervisory bodies affiliated with the Guardian Council. If the number of approved candidates does not change during the review of objections, the tenth parliamentary elections will have the highest disqualification rate compared to previous periods. In the first parliamentary elections, 46 percent were disqualified, in the second 20 percent, in the third 19 percent, in the fourth 28.5 percent, in the fifth 39 percent, in the sixth 26 percent, in the seventh 44 percent, in the eighth 37.5 percent, and in the ninth 35 percent of candidates were disqualified.