AFP: The Iranian parliament voted on Tuesday to hold future legislative and presidential elections on the same day — a move which could cut the president’s term by a year and extend parliament’s mandate. TEHRAN, Jan 23, 2007 (AFP) – The Iranian parliament voted on Tuesday to hold future legislative and presidential elections on the same day — a move which could cut the president’s term by a year and extend parliament’s mandate.
The bill only said that parliamentary and presidential elections should be held “on the same day”, according to the debate broadcast live on state radio.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s term ends in mid 2009, while the current parliament is due to step down at the beginning of 2008.
Both the president and parliament have four-year mandates. In order for the next elections to be held simultaneously the president’s term, after his election in 2005 a year after the current MPs, should be cut or parliament should remain in office for five years instead of four.
The bill is subject to the approval of the Guardians Council, an unelected watchdog body that vets all legislation to ensure it complies with the constitution and Islamic law.
If the bill is rejected, parliament could vote again and send the bill to the Expediency Council, which has the final say in matters such as resolving disputes between parliament and the Guardians Council.
Former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani heads the Expediency Council.
