This archive report was first published on 1 December 2019.
Iran is set to hold its parliamentary election on February 21, 2020, with the Guardian Council, responsible for organizing and monitoring elections, vowing to improve the election process.
Speaking to AFP on the eve of the registration of candidates, Guardian Council spokesman Abbas Ali Kadkhodaee acknowledged that mistakes had been made in the past but emphasized the council's commitment to reducing these errors and respecting the rights of candidates.
"We don't consider ourselves immune from criticism. We may also accept that mistakes have been made in the past," Kadkhodaee said.
He added, "But for the next legislative elections, we are trying to reduce our mistakes and respect the rights of candidates. If we insist on enforcing the law, we'll be able to satisfy as many candidates as possible."
The Guardian Council has faced accusations of barring candidates more on political than constitutional grounds, particularly from reformists in Iran.
President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate conservative, had called on the council to stick to the letter of the law in view of the forthcoming election in November.
At Iran's last parliamentary election in February 2016, the Council authorized 6,229 candidates for the 290 seats at stake, just over 51 percent of those who sought to stand.
