elections Archives - Iran News Daily

Iran Restates Support for Venezuela As Maduro Wins Election

mahla — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 06:54:46 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) In a post on his X account on Monday morning, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani congratulated the Venezuelan government and nation on holding the successful presidential election.

The huge turnout of voters in the Venezuelan election in the presence of hundreds of international observers from the foreign countries, institutions and organizations, despite a series of threats and the imposition of cruel and unfair sanctions against Venezuela, indicated the institutionalization of democracy in that country, Kanaani said.

He also reaffirmed Iran’s support for and solidarity with Venezuela in advancing its national development plans and strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Maduro, 61, has been declared the winner in Venezuela’s presidential election by the electoral authority.

Elvis Amoroso, head of the National Electoral Council, said Maduro secured 51 percent of the vote, overcoming opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez who garnered 44 percent.

He said the results were based on 80 percent of voting stations, marking an irreversible trend.

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No Security Incident During Iran Election Process: Police Chief

mahla — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 21:41:03 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) –Speaking on Friday, General Radan said there has not been any report of security incidents in any part of Iran since the polls opened at 8 am this morning.

Full security prevails at all polling stations across the country and everything is kept in order, the commander stated.

More than 61,450,000 eligible Iranian voters can take part in the ongoing elections inside the country and abroad.

There are four candidates seeking presidency in the polls, including Saeed Jalili, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and Masoud Pezeshkian. Two other hopefuls, Alireza Zakani and Amir Hossein Qazizadeh Hashemi dropped out of the race on Wednesday and Thursday.

The candidates have been singled out by the Constitutional Council from 80 applicants seeking the presidency.

The new administration, the 14th one after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, will assume power in late June or early July and hold office for four years.

The polls take place a year ahead of schedule, as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi passed away in May.

A helicopter carrying President Raisi and his entourage crashed in northwestern mountainous forests on May 19, killing the president, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and six others.

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No Security Incident During Iran Election Process: Police Chief

mahla — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 16:55:10 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) –Speaking on Friday, General Radan said there has not been any report of security incidents in any part of Iran since the polls opened at 8 am this morning.

Full security prevails at all polling stations across the country and everything is kept in order, the commander stated.

More than 61,450,000 eligible Iranian voters can take part in the ongoing elections inside the country and abroad.

The candidates have been singled out by the Constitutional Council from 80 applicants seeking the presidency.

The new administration, the 14th one after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, will assume power in late June or early July and hold office for four years.

The polls take place a year ahead of schedule, as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi passed away in May.

A helicopter carrying President Raisi and his entourage crashed in northwestern mountainous forests on May 19, killing the president, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and six others.

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Preparations Made for Iranians’ Voting Abroad

mahla — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 21:13:08 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) –Speaking at a presser on Wednesday, Nasser Kanaani said the Foreign Ministry has carried out every necessary plan to enable Iranian expatriates to take part in the presidential polls in foreign countries.

He said the ballot papers have been shipped to the polling stations abroad, as the election will be held on Friday.

The spokesperson also pointed to “formal coordination” with the Saudi authorities to allow for the participation of the Iranian Hajj pilgrims in the presidential election.

In comments on Wednesday morning, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said that Saudi Arabia has not so far cooperated with Iran in the process of the Hajj pilgrims’ attendance in voting and that the Interior Ministry has come up with a Plan B, which requires the Constitutional Council’s approval.

Vahidi noted that more than 61 million people will be eligible to vote in the elections on Friday.

Iran is going to hold a nationwide presidential election on June 28. The polls will take place a year ahead of schedule, as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi passed away in a helicopter crash on May 19.

In remarks on Tuesday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei emphasized that the key to national pride in the elections lies in maximum public participation and the election of the most qualified candidate.

“The reason for the insistence and emphasis on maximum participation in the elections is that the most important impact of a high turnout is that it brings honor to the Islamic Republic,” the Leader said.

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Official: Women constitute 47 percent of voters in Iran elections

mahla — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 21:25:55 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) –Spokesperson for Iran’s elections headquarters says women constitute 47 of voters in the country’s parliamentary and the Assembly of Experts Elections, while the remaining 53 percent are men.

Speaking to reporters at the elections headquarters in Tehran on Friday, Mohsen Eslami said the provinces of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Southern Khorasan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Lorestna, Qom, Golestan, Razavi Khorasan, Northern Khorasan, Ilam and Kerman have seen the highest voter turnout so far.

As many as 290 parliamentary seats are up for grabs in 208 constituencies, and 144 candidates are also running for 88 seats at the Assembly of Experts whose task is to elect the Leader and monitor his performance.More than 61 million people are eligible to vote in Iran’s Friday elections.

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Report: 15,220 qualified to run for Iran’s March elections

mahla — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 21:20:44 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) –Iran’s Tasnim news agency says the final number of candidates running for the upcoming elections in the country reaches 15,220.

Tasnim added that more than half of those who had protested their disqualification from candidacy were approved. According to this report, Iran’s Guardian Council, which is responsible for vetting the candidates for any election, has now completed the list of the hopefuls.

The parliamentary elections are scheduled for March 1, 2024.Voters will also choose members of the Assembly of Experts during the polls.The Assembly of Experts is tasked with choosing the leader, supervising his performance and if necessary replacing him.

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Iran Leader says path of reform passes through elections

mahla — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 22:45:41 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) –Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has called for massive turnout in the upcoming elections across the country. He stressed that the path of reform passes through elections.

Speaking at a meeting with a group of people from East Azarbaijan Province in the Imam Khomeini Hussainyah on Sunday, Ayatollah Khamenei said everyone should participate in the elections.

“Elections are the main pillar of the Islamic Republic. The way to reform the country is through elections,” he stated.

He reminded the candidates that political differences should not affect the national unity of the Iranian nation against the enemies.

“Do not assume that the enemy is weak and incapable,” the Leader asserted, adding, “An important condition for victory is knowing the capabilities of the enemy, yet not fearing it.”Iran is gearing up for parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections slated for March 1.Almost 15,000 candidates have been approved to compete in the parliamentary elections that are held every four years.

In the Assembly of Experts elections, 144 candidates are vying for 88 seats at the body, which 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.

In recent months, Ayatollah Khamenei has consistently encouraged people to participate in the elections.

Early last month, he stated, “Anyone who opposes the elections is opposing the Islamic Republic and Islam.”

He also censured attempts aimed at demoralizing the people and making them distrustful by claiming that the elections in Iran are meaningless.

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All political groups have pre-registered for parliamentary elections, says interior minister

mahla — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 20:19:45 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) –Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet session on Wednesday that candidates from diverse political factions have pre-registered to run in the parliamentary elections, which will be held in late winter.

On the famous figures who have registered, he said, “Candidates’ fame may cause valuation, which is not what we want,” according to the ISNA news agency.

The minister went on to say that it is a duty to prevent ceremonial and expensive actions, adding that the expensive and unnecessary ceremonies are reprehensible.

On the water supply to Zabol County in Sistan-Baluchestan province, the minister also said, “We are working hard to supply water to Zabol County. Of course, some projects may take time, but they are serious issues and are on our agenda.”

Regarding the actions of the Ministry of Interior for the Arbaeen procession, Vahidi said that the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization had launched a system, and the problem with the main system (Samah system) would be tackled soon.

Vahidi also shed light on the latest terrorist attack on the Shah Cheragh shrine, saying that intelligence and security agencies have arrested the suspects and they will be put on trial.

He also confirmed that the terrorist was from Tajikistan.

“Protection plan for the Shah Cheragh Shrine was predicted and carried out before the terrorist attack, but the tragic event happened…. Strengthening the security of the Shah Cheragh shrine is also on the agenda,” added Vahidi, clarifying the protective measures for preventing the recurrence of terrorist attacks.

On the arrest of the Iranian photojournalist in Afghanistan, Vahidi also said the government will definitely follow the issue, and further details are related to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Pointing to the measures taken by the Ministry of Petroleum to tackle long lines at gas stations, he said, “The Ministry of Petroleum had taken measures to organize its work better. Unlike the very high gasoline consumption in the country, the Ministry of Petroleum has provided the needs well, and we do not have a problem in this regard. However, there is a special emphasis on reducing and optimizing consumption.”

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Iran parliamentary elections to be held with new electoral law

mahla — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 22:52:30 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) –Hadi Tahan Nazif, the spokesman for the Guardian Council, announced Sunday that the new parliamentary elections slated for March 2024 will be held with the new electoral law that the vetting body endorsed.

Nazif said the Iranian parliament worked on amending the electoral law last year and passed a new version of the law, which included more than 50 articles.

The last procedures for amending the law in the parliament were done on Sunday and the next parliamentary elections, due to be held in March 2024, will be held with the new amended law, the spokesman said, according to Mehr News.

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Who ran in Iraq’s crucial election?

mahla — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 08:26:56 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Who ran in Iraq‘s crucial election? Iraqi voters (of whom 25 million are eligible to vote) have cast their ballots distributed among 83 electoral districts and more than 8,200 polling stations across the county.

For the first time, the country is using biometric electoral cards under the new electronic voting system. However, reports have emerged from some polling stations of problems with voters being turned back because their fingerprints showed an error with the new system. All polling stations closed at 6 pm with no time added as the system was designed to shut down at this time. That could have affected the turnout.

The demonstrations in 2019 wanted reforms among a host of other demands. At the top of these demands was a higher employment rate among the youth.

According to statistics by the United Nations, Iraq’s population is 40.2 million, 60 percent of whom are under the age of 25.

According to the new election law, these elections, which were set for the year 2022 (will be held for the first time) with new multiple electoral districts that will be voting for only one candidate at each electoral district.

This will supposedly limit the dominance of the bigger parties and allow more independent candidates on the political scene.

There are 21 alliances running and more than 3200 candidates contending.

This time Iraqi expats living outside the country will not be allowed to vote. On October 8, a special vote was held for members of the security forces, the displaced, and the prisoners.

Each electoral district or constituency elects between three to five deputies in proportion to its population.

The candidates competed for 329 seats, including 83 seats representing 25 percent of the total for women and nine seats for minorities distributed among Christians, Shabaks, Sabeans, Yazidis, and Faili Kurds.

Representatives of the new Parliament have been elected for a four-year term, and candidates can only run in one electoral district.

So unlike before, when candidates ran as independents or on behalf of a party, the winner of each constituency will end up in Parliament. Previously the party leader had the power to select whoever he saw fit enough from his party to sit in Parliament, which in essence doesn’t mean the lawmaker in Parliament is the one people voted to represent them.

Familiar and popular political parties still dominate the Iraqi political scene despite the protest movement in the country in October 2019. While the activists who participated in the protests have set up, their political party called the “Tishreen movement” or the October movement in reference to their rallies that brought about early elections. They have fielded a number of candidates in several provinces in the country.

The Sadrist movement, led by the cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, has a broad fan base that enabled it to win the most significant number of parliament seats during the 2018 elections. It may be able to strengthen its presence in Parliament this time as well. Many analysts expect the Sadrist movement to do well, given its popularity. The party has publicly said it expects to gain around 100 seats, but some say this could be a slight exaggeration. The party had also made it clear that it expects to get the Prime Minister’s post given its popularity and the fact no prime minister has been chosen from the Sadr movement before.

Another popular faction, represented by candidates within the Al-Fateh alliance or Conquest alliance, is led by Hadi Al-Amiri, who also heads the Badr Organization, one of the main factions in the Popular Mobilization Units. Political parties affiliated by the popular mobilization units first arrived in Parliament after the 2018 elections. And having played the biggest role in liberating Iraq from Daesh, Conquest came second in 2018 despite having just formed the alliance on the backdrop of Daesh’s defeat in late 2017. Observers also expect the Conquest alliance to do well this time.

The Haqq party is new to the scene, running for the first time. These are former members of the Hezbollah Brigades (one of the most prominent units from the Popular Mobilization Forces). Their members say they are no longer associated with the Hezbollah brigades and have dropped their weapons, intending to take a political path only. Observers expect them to win no more than ten seats, but these ten seats could play a crucial role, and they will most likely link up with the conquest alliance to form a majority.

The National State Forces Alliance is composed of two familiar faces. The Hikma (wisdom) party Ammar al-Hakeem leader has teamed up with former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Analysts expect this alliance to gain around 30 seats. In 2018, a coalition led by al-Abadi became third, winning 42 seats after he presided over Daesh’s defeat. The Hikma party won 19 seats in 2018. Previously they had formed a parliamentary majority with the Sadr movement.

The state of law coalition is another party familiar to the political landscape led by another former prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, a senior leader in one of Iraq’s oldest Shia political parties, Dawa. The state of law coalition won 25 seats in 2018, and observers tell Tehran Times, it is expected to attract something similar this time around.

The Sunni parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi is leading the Taqaddum, or progress, alliance which comprises several Sunni leaders from the Sunni-majority north and west of Iraq.

Parliament speaker Halbousi’s main competitor is Khamis al-Khanjar’s coalition which is called Azm.

The two Kurdish heavyweights, the Kurdistan Democratic Party, run by the Barzani tribe, will compete against the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan founded by the late Jalal Talabani.

Iraq’s political system is set up where the Prime Minister is a Shia, the President a Kurd, and the Parliament speaker a Sunni. A system that experts say was set up by the United States following its invasion in 2003 with the aim of division and a design that needs urgent reviewing and revising.

As the results emerged on Monday, no party has gained a majority, so talks will take place between different parties and independents to form the largest parliamentary coalition. This coalition will choose the Prime Minister, who in turn will select his cabinet ministers.

In previous elections, this process took months to complete, but analysts say this time, the government will be formed quicker, perhaps in a couple of weeks.

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