Larijani: Supreme Leader Supports Diversity of Political Tastes

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani stressed the Supreme Leader’s strong opposition to the monopoly of a single stream over the country, and said the Leader believes that the scene of politics should be all-inclusive.

Speaking to FNA, Larijani pointed to the Leader of Islamic Ummah and Oppressed People Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei’s emphasis on the significance of unity against the plots hatched by enemies against the Islamic establishment, and said that internal unity is part of the political mechanism that boosts such resistance.

“The Supreme Leader’s emphasis on unity has a logical and religious rationale, but this issue should receive attention along with diversity of tastes, because the leader believes that diversity to the extent that makes people able to elect various candidates is useful,” he said, explaining the Leader’s views about elections.

Meantime, Larijani urged political parties to avoid smear campaign and defaming their political rivals, and added, “Preferring a given person or (political) group should not end up in destroying other sides because all steams have some positive aspects, and having interest in a given faction does not mean destroying others.”

He added that such understanding will greatly help boost national unity.

The remarks came just days before the parliamentary elections in Iran due to be held on Friday.

Iran’s political parties and factions on Thursday started campaigning for the legislative elections.

Parliament candidates launched their weeklong campaign on Thursday by introducing their plans to the public to help Iranians decide on the most qualified individuals for the legislative posts.

Iran’s Guardian Council, charged with supervising the elections, approved the competence of more than 3,400 candidates.

On February 21, Iran’s Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said that 48 million people are eligible to cast their ballots in the upcoming vote.

He added that over 5,400 had registered to contest 290 parliamentary seats, and noted that more than 47,000 polling stations will operate nationwide during the elections.