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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran council scraps new presidential rules |
| 2008-12-07 |
| Iran's legislative watchdog, the, rejected on Saturday new strict rules set by parliament for presidential candidates, the official IRNA news agency reported. In early November parliament introduced age limits and strict educational criteria into electoral law in a bid to deter frivolous runners from standing for president. But Abbas Ali Kadkhoadi, spokesman for the hard-line vetting body said the new rules were "contradictory to the constitution." The Guardians Council reviews parliamentary decisions and interprets the constitution. A final decision is in the hands of the top political arbitration board, the Expediency Council, which settles differences between parliament and the vetting body. The council's move came ahead of a presidential election set for June 12 next year, when incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to seek a second four-year term. Under the amendment to the electoral law, candidates should have been aged between 40 and 75 and hold the equivalent of a master's degree from a university or seminary. The original law does not set age limits or stipulate a diploma. Under the amendment, candidates should have already served in a national post such as president, vice-president, minister, judiciary, military or broadcasting official, or as mayor of a major city. The 12-member Guardians Council rejected the rules even though the text remained silent on the nomination of women, something the council has always rejected. It underlined that the word "rejal" mentioned in the constitution is the plural of "rajol," Farsi for "man." "The parliamentary approval has restricted or expanded some of the conditions for president, against the constitution," Kadkhodai said, referring to requirements that any candidates should be "rajol" and an Iranian national. The new amendment sought to prevent frivolous applications, as for example in 2005 when a young unemployed man registered to run "to find a job" and an illiterate villager applied because he wanted "to save the country." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 If real diplomas won't be required, perhaps they'll require fake diplomas. |
| Posted by: Eric Jablow 2008-12-07 16:24 |