Political groups mull upcoming elections
Abdolvahed Musavi Lari of the Assembly of Combatant Clerics said that his party is focused on forming a coalition with like-minded parties.
“We are moving toward forming a coalition with other reformist parties by lobbying them at this juncture,” he added.
An enthusiastic election will follow if political parties of different persuasions are allowed to run for the elections more freely, the former interior minister noted.
A tight atmosphere reduces the maneuverability of political groups, causing a passive climate to prevail over the polls, he noted.
Iran Clean Party Secretary General Bijan Esmaeilzadeh said that his party has been lobbying likeminded parties including student groups to reach a consensus on their candidates for the city council elections.
“We will field candidates who are well educated and familiar with the principles of city management and its problems,” he noted.
The ICP will support reformist candidates for the Assembly of Experts election, he added.
Hadi Qabel of the Islamic Iran Participation Party said that his party and the Assembly of Researchers and Teachers are considering their candidates for the Assembly of Experts election.
“Our main concerns are the soundness of the elections and whether our candidates will be qualified,” he pointed out.
“If reformist candidates are disqualified in these two polls, nobody should expect reformist parties to participate in other elections,” he cautioned.
United Kurdish Front spokesman Bahaoddin Adab said that his group will not participate in any election but UKF members can run for the elections individually if they so choose.
“We will not support anyone or any group. We will not even back UKF members,” the former MP asserted.
The UKF will proceed with its legal and transparent political activities and will support anyone, either reformist or conservative, who seeks to observe the rights of the people.
The next Assembly of Experts election is scheduled to be held on November 17.