Iranian lawmakers to increase in number

Iran’s Interior Ministry said Monday that it is studying legislation to increase the number of lawmakers in Parliament by twenty.

Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said the bill would have to be approved by the Ahmadinejad cabinet before being sent to Parliament to be put to vote.

Najjar said legislation is being drafted based on studies of geographical and political divisions within the country, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

There are currently 290 lawmakers in the legislative body. According to Article 64 of the Constitution, 20 people are added to the members of Parliament every 10 years.

Brigadier General Najjar said the bill is expected to be completed by the end of the Iranian year in March.