Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Parliamentarian Elections Kick off in Iran Tomorrow


Thu 20 Feb 2020 | 09:38 PM
Ahmed Moamar

A new round of parliamentarian elections kicks off in Iran tomorrow.

The legislative body in Iran is called the Islamic Shura Council.

The elections are taking place against a backdrop of a severe economic crisis due to the US sanctions against Iran.

The sanctions became tougher and harsher over the years of US President Donald Trump.

Trump vowed, during his campaign, to hit the Iranian economy to topple the governing system in Tehran.

The elections will be held after a few months of major protests against the increase in fuel prices.

Tensions are still escalating between Iran and the USA because of the recent killing of General  Qassem Soleimani, Commander of the Quds Force in Iraq early this year.

The fact that these elections come with the emergence of more protests in the course of the last two years.

Percentage of the turnout mirrors of the popularity of governance in the Iranian street.

Results of the upcoming election weigh heavily on Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who has only 18 months left from his second and last term.

He may clash with a conservative-dominated council which is likely meaning that he will face more pressure and criticism.

The doors of nomination were closed on December 9 and registered 13,896 candidates to participate in the parliamentary elections.

Among the candidates are 605 women who will compete for 209 seats in the Islamic Shura Council, "Parliament".

Tomorrow’s election is the first test for Tehran since the United States has withdrawn from the nuclear agreement in May 2018.

Donald Trump administration followed that step with more sanctions on Tehran.

The hostile measurements taken by the USA  led to an acute economic crisis and following violent fuel protests.

However, the political atmosphere is still foggy in Iran.

The electoral map of the Iranian political currents doesn’t indicate clearly the true trends of the voters.

A cold atmosphere dominates the political spectrum in Iran.

That was clear in the early days after the closing of the doors to run for elections.

Some observers don't think Iran will hold a free and fair election competition between the political currents.