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The President of Iran is the highest popularly elected official in the Islamic Republic of Iran, but is subordinate to the Supreme Leader. According to the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran the president is responsible for the "functions of the executive", such as signing treaties, agreements etc. with other countries and international organizations; the national planning and budget and state employment affairs; appointing ministers, governors, and ambassadors subject to the approval of the parliament.[1]
Unlike many other countries, in Iran the president does not have full control over foreign policy, the armed forces, or the nuclear policy of the Iranian state, which are under the control of the Supreme Leader. [2]
The President is elected for a four-year term by the direct vote of the people and may not serve for more than two consecutive terms.
The current President of Iran is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad since the Iranian presidential election, 2005. He was reelected after the Iranian presidential election, 2009 but controversy remains over the results.
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Qualifications and election
The President of Iran is elected for a four year term in a national election by universal adult suffrage for everyone of at least 18 years of age.[3] Candidates for the presidency must be approved by the 12-member Council of Guardians. Half of the Council's members are appointed by the Supreme Leader and are intended to preserve the values of the Islamic Republic. According to the constitution of Iran candidates for the presidency must possess the following qualifications:
- Iranian origin;
- administrative capacity and resourcefulness;
- a good past record;
- trustworthiness and piety; and
- convinced belief in the fundamental principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the official madhhab of the country.[4]
Within these guidelines the Council vetoes candidates who are deemed unacceptable. The approval process is considered to be a check on the president's power, and usually amounts to a small number of candidates being approved. In the 1997 election, for example, only four out of 238 presidential candidates were approved by the council. Western observers have routinely criticized the approvals process as a way for the Council and Supreme Leader to ensure that only conservative and like-minded Islamic fundamentalists can win office. However, the council rejects the criticism, citing approval of reformists in previous elections. The council rejects most of the candidates stating that they are not "a well-known political figure", a requirement by the current law. The President must be elected with a simple majority of the popular vote. A runoff election may be required to achieve this. The President serves for a term of four years and is eligible for a second term.
Presidential council
According to the Iranian constitution, when the President dies or is impeached, a special provisional Presidential Council temporarily rules in his place until an election can be held. The President automatically becomes the Head of the Council of Cultural Revolution and the Head of the Council of National Security.
See also
External links
- The President's Office
- Iran's Presidential Office of Scientific and Industrial Studies
- Ahmadinejad's blog
References
- ^ Iran - Constitution Chapter IX, section 1 & 2 of the constitution
- ^ Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Accessed 5-23-2008, (see also Article 110 of the constitution)
- ^ http://www.ilna.ir/shownews.asp?code=385408&code1=15
- ^ Constitution of Iran Article 115 - Qualifications
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