WORLD
Iranians vote in parliamentary, Assembly elections
Baku, February 26, AZERTAC
Iranians vote in two crucial elections as the country looks to a post-sanction period to rebuild its economy and shape its relations with the outside world, accoding to Press TV Iran.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the elections have an added importance as he cast his vote in the opening hours of the voting at a polling station in downtown Tehran on Friday.
“Elections are always important but in certain junctures they have more importance,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
In the capital Tehran, some 1,000 candidates compete for 30 parliamentary seats. Five seats also go to the religious minorities recognized in the Iranian Constitution, namely Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians.
Members of Parliament serve four-year terms.
Among the main tasks of the legislative body are introducing legislation, dismissing the president and cabinet ministers through no-confidence votes, approving annual national budget and ratifying international treaties.
In the simultaneous vote on Friday, Iranians will also select 88 senior religious figures of the Assembly of Experts, which is tasked with appointing the Leader and monitoring his performance.