Larijani to stand in Iranian vote

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

TEHRAN (AFP) - Several of Iran's political heavyweights, including ex-nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, are among more than 7,000 hopefuls who have signed up to stand in March parliamentary elections, officials said on Saturday.


The March 14 elections will see reformists seek to erode conservative dominance of parliament, and the presence of high-profile candidates is an indication of the importance of the polls.

According to an interior ministry statement, 7,168 candidates -- including 585 women -- had registered to stand before the deadline passed on Friday.

In order to be eligible, the candidates still have to be approved by the hardline vetting body the Guardians Council, which has the right to disqualify any entrant deemed insufficiently supportive of Iran's Islamic system.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080112/wl_mideast_afp/iranpoliticsvote_080112141444

[ck4829]

1. The Guardian Council sounds kind of like our media

Ignoring candidates they don't like and ignoring the dirt on candidates they do like (Like how we saw with Bush in 2000 and 2004).

[villager]

2. Good point -- yes the "vetters" for the status quo, so it's not unduly threatened by mere voting..

n/t