Iranian Assembly of Experts election, 2006
Encyclopedia
The Iranian Assembly of Experts election of 2006 was held on December 15, 2006. People elected representatives for the Assembly of Experts
, the mujtahid that elect the Supreme Leader
.
The elections took place on the same day as the election for electing City and Village Councils
credentials of all candidates were approved by the Guardian Council
using written and oral (interview) examinations. Some members of the Council were also candidates. Although there were a few women mujtahids applying for candidacy, they could not pass the examination. The number of candidates which passed the examination was so low that the council had to lower the passing mark several times. There were initially 144 candidates for the 86 available seats. This was later increased, and according to Islamic Republic News Agency
there were 181 qualified candidates. However, the number of candidates on the day of election was 165, and for the first time there were two non-cleric doctor of Islam candidate, although they were not elected.
reported that the candidate list announced by the Combatant Clergy Association has captured most of the seats (68 of 86 seats, while introducing 81 candidates). Reformists backed by Mahdi Karroubi and fundamentalist associates of Mesbah Yazdi failed to live up to their expectations.
The results were:
The Assembly was convened on 19 February 2007 and Ali Meshkini
was re-elected as chairman. The changes in the presiding board from the 3rd assembly was the replacement of Mohammad Yazdi
with Ebrahim Amini
, who has retired, as the 2nd deputy chairman; and election of Hassan Rohani as a provisionist.
Assembly of Experts
The Assembly of Experts of Iran , also translated as Council of Experts, is a deliberative body of 86 Mujtahids that is charged with electing and removing the Supreme Leader of Iran and supervising his activities.Members of the assembly are elected from a government-screened list of candidates by...
, the mujtahid that elect the Supreme Leader
Supreme leader
A supreme leader typically refers to a figure in the highest leadership position of an entity, group, organization, or state, who exercises strong or all-powerful authority over it. In religion, the supreme leader or supreme leaders is God or Gods...
.
The elections took place on the same day as the election for electing City and Village Councils
City and Village Councils of Iran
City and Village Councils are local councils which are elected by public vote in all cities and villages throughout Iran....
Candidates
The Islamic DoctorateIjtihad
Ijtihad is the making of a decision in Islamic law by personal effort , independently of any school of jurisprudence . as opposed to taqlid, copying or obeying without question....
credentials of all candidates were approved by the Guardian Council
Guardian Council
The Guardian Council of the Constitution , also known as the Guardian Council or Council of Guardians, is an appointed and constitutionally-mandated 12-member council that wields considerable power and influence in the Islamic Republic of Iran....
using written and oral (interview) examinations. Some members of the Council were also candidates. Although there were a few women mujtahids applying for candidacy, they could not pass the examination. The number of candidates which passed the examination was so low that the council had to lower the passing mark several times. There were initially 144 candidates for the 86 available seats. This was later increased, and according to Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamic Republic News Agency
The Islamic Republic News Agency , or IRNA, is the official news agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is government-funded and controlled under the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. The agency also publishes the newspaper Iran. , the Managing Director of IRNA is Ali Akbar...
there were 181 qualified candidates. However, the number of candidates on the day of election was 165, and for the first time there were two non-cleric doctor of Islam candidate, although they were not elected.
Outcome
The Ministry of Interior reported an estimated 60% turnout of the 46.5 million eligible voters, reporting "more than 28 million people" as the number of voters who had voted. Different parties had several candidates in common, but Baztab NewsBaztab
Baztab is an Iranian, Persian language, Tehran-based news website. The English service of this site has published since January 2007. Although Baztab is an anti-reformist website, it sometimes criticizes Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government's policies and mostly unveils corruption cases inside the...
reported that the candidate list announced by the Combatant Clergy Association has captured most of the seats (68 of 86 seats, while introducing 81 candidates). Reformists backed by Mahdi Karroubi and fundamentalist associates of Mesbah Yazdi failed to live up to their expectations.
The results were:
The Assembly was convened on 19 February 2007 and Ali Meshkini
Ali Meshkini
Ayatollah Ali Akbar Feyz Meshkini was an Iranian hardline cleric and politician.-Life:Meshkini was an Iranian Azerbaijani born in a village near Meshkinshahr and the Sabalan mountain. He was born as Āli, but preferred the pronounciaton, Ali during his career. He succeeded Ayatollah Montazeri as...
was re-elected as chairman. The changes in the presiding board from the 3rd assembly was the replacement of Mohammad Yazdi
Mohammad Yazdi
Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdii is an Iranian cleric who served as the head of Judiciary System of Iran between 1989 and 1999, following Ayatollah Abdolkarim Mousavi Ardebili and succeeded by Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi....
with Ebrahim Amini
Ebrahim Amini
Ayatollah Haj Shaykh Ebrahim Amini is an Iranian politician in the Assembly of Experts. He is also a member of the Expediency Discernment Council.-External links:*...
, who has retired, as the 2nd deputy chairman; and election of Hassan Rohani as a provisionist.
External links
- Iran: Assembly Election Significant Despite Heavy Vetting
- The ‘Second Islamic Revolution’ in Iran
- Candidates profile - In Persian
- Ayatollah Najmi weblog - A candidate's weblog - In Persian
- FACTBOX-Officials, Iranians, comment on elections
- Baztab - In Persian
- Supreme Leader Remarks
- List of candidates
Islamic Republic News Agency
- http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0612054404140233.htm
- http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0612069019143223.htm
- http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0612054498165449.htm
- http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0612074887141446.htm