Record 12,000 candidates for Iran elections

AFP, TEHRAN: More than 12,000 candidates have signed up for Iranian parliamentary elections due in February, the most since the Islamic revolution in 1979, official media said Saturday.
The number of people who registered to stand before a Friday deadline was up nearly 100 percent compared with the previous legislative polls in 2012, the interior ministry said.
At the close of registration, the number of candidates stood at “12,123, of whom 1,434 were women,” state news agency IRNA quoted the interior ministry as saying.
Women accounted for 11 percent of the hopefuls for the 290 seats available in the February 26 vote, up from eight percent last time.
The proportion of candidates below the age of 50 increased from 67 per cent to 73 percent. The youngest candidate to apply was 30 years old, and the oldest 75.
However, the final number of candidates is expected to be lower after the Guardians Council vets applications, with a final list published on February 9.

 

Record 12,000 candidates for Iran elections

AFP, TEHRAN: More than 12,000 candidates have signed up for Iranian parliamentary elections due in February, the most since the Islamic revolution in 1979, official media said Saturday. The number of people who registered to stand before a Friday deadline was up nearly 100 percent compared with the previous legislative polls in 2012, the interior ministry said. At the close of registration, the number of candidates stood at 12,123, of whom 1,434 were women, state news agency IRNA quoted the interior ministry as saying. Women accounted for 11 percent of the hopefuls for the 290 seats available in the February 26 vote, up from eight percent last time. The proportion of candidates below the age of 50 increased from 67 per cent to 73 percent. The youngest candidate to apply was 30 years old, and the oldest 75. However, the final number of candidates is expected to be lower after the Guardians Council vets applications, with a final list published on February 9.