Political structure
Feb 19th 2008
From the Economist Intelligence Unit
Source: Country Report
http://www.economist.com/countries/Iran
Official name
Islamic Republic of Iran
Legal system
Based on the constitution of 1979, which was amended in 1989
Legislature
290-member Majlis-e-Shuray-e Islami (National Assembly). All candidates for the Majlis must be approved by the 12-member Guardian Council, six of whom are appointed by the supreme leader (rahbar) and six by the judiciary. Majlis legislation must also be approved by the Guardian Council. The Expediency Council mediates between the Majlis and the Guardian Council
Electoral system
Universal adult suffrage for elections to the Majlis, to the Assembly of Experts (the body that chooses the rahbar) and for the presidency
National elections
Next elections: March 2008 (legislative); June 2009 (presidential)
The supreme leader (rahbar)
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Head of state
President, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term for a maximum of two terms. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected in June 2005, replacing Mohammed Khatami
Executive
The post of prime minister was abolished in 1989. The new cabinet was approved by the Majlis in August 2005
Main political trends
The loose conservative group, Abadgaran-e Iran-e Islami, can technically marshal an outright majority in the Majlis. However, parliamentary factions are loose. The Second of Khordad (May 23rd) coalition, which dominated the 2000-04 Majlis, represents reformists
President: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Head of presidential office: Gholam-Hossein Elham
Key ministers
Commerce: Masoud Mir-Kazemi
Culture & Islamic guidance: Mohammed-Hossein Saffar-Harandi
Defence: Mostafa Mohammed-Najjar
Economy & finance: Davood Danesh-Jafari
Education: Mahmoud Farshidi
Energy: Parviz Fattah
Foreign affairs: Manouchehr Mottaki
Industries & mines: Ali Akbar Mehrabian
Information (intelligence): Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei
Interior: Mustafa Pour-Mohammedi
Justice: Gholam-Hossein Elham
Oil: Gholam-Hossein Nozari
Speaker of the Majlis: Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel
Head of the Supreme National Security Council: Saeed Jalili
Head of the Management & Planning Organisation: Amir Mansour Borghei
Head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation: Gholam-Reza Aghazadeh
Central bank governor
Tahmaseb Mazaheri
Political forces
Oct 16th 2007
From the Economist Intelligence Unit
Source: Country ViewsWire
Majlis factions
Legitimate political activity is permitted only among those who publicly accept the velayat-e faqih (rule of the supreme Islamic jurisprudent). Political parties, legalised in 1998 after a 13-year ban, are still at an early stage of development and policy formation, and party discipline is inconsistent. Nevertheless, there are clear factions within the ruling hierarchy and in the Majlis. Although these have often been defined broadly as "reformist" or "conservative", the system is fluid and a range of political allegiances exist based on patronage, specific interests and the exchange of favours. Mr Khatami's government had to lobby strongly to move legislation even through the reformist-dominated Majlis, and its policies were frequently subject to complication or even reversal in the face of political manoeuvring or popular opposition. Since Mr Khatami was first elected in 1997, the Servants of Construction, the Assembly of the Militant Clergy, the Islamic Participation Front and the Crusaders of the Islamic Revolution have become well-established groups closely associated with the reformist camp. The conservative camp has been focused around the Society for Militant Clergy, the Allied Islamic Society and the Society of the Qom Seminary Teachers. Candidates who stood for the Abadgaran bloc in the 2004 elections were closely connected to the Office of the Supreme Leader, and this affiliation seems to have overridden others in importance in the 2004-08 Majlis. The Abadgaran-dominated Majlis has further raised its influence and profile under the presidency of Mr Ahmadinejad.
Submitted by Admin on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 6:55pm.
