Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 18
By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that his government will not back any political parties in the elections to be held in February 2016.
Iran is going to hold elections to the Parliament and the Assembly of Experts, simultaneously on February 26, 2016.
Rouhani said his government will make efforts to pave the way for all political fractions and parties to participate in the elections, the president's official website reported Nov. 18.
He further urged governor-generals of Iranian provinces to create proper condition for holding the elections.
Earlier in August, Iranian Minister of Interior Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said so far 4,000 people have signed up for the candidacy of the upcoming parliamentary election.
The Parliament's 290 members, 14 of whom represent non-Muslim religious minorities, are popularly elected for four-year terms. About eight percent of the Parliament are women.
All nominees have to be qualified by the Guardian Council, which can bar candidates from standing in elections to parliament, the presidency and the Assembly of Experts.
The conservative dominated Guardian Council is an influential vetting body in Iran, which consists of six theologians appointed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and six jurists nominated by the judiciary and approved by the parliament.