West media seek to influence Iran elections: Academic

Press TV has conducted an interview with Mohammad Marandi, a professor at the University of Tehran, on the upcoming parliamentary elections in Iran.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: A week of campaigning has been given for this parliamentary elections; it is very different from what you see in the West, where a year before the presidential elections there is already campaigning happening; why this difference?

Marandi: It is basically because in Iran they do not want money to be the ultimate and determining factor, which ultimately leads to a person make too much wealth and power coming into office. The campaigns are short so that it is more fair to those candidates who have less financial capabilities.

Press TV: Right so with the elections just round the corner now for those of our viewers who are not aware, what do these elections mean what does the parliament mean for the Iranian political system?

Marandi: There [are] two elections. One is for the parliament and one is also for the council that determines the Leader. The parliamentary elections are obviously very important because the laws of the land are passed by the parliament itself.

And I think it’s important to know that in this part of the world, Iran is one of the few countries that have regular parliamentary elections and elections at all levels that are related both to parliament and the presidency and also to local council and choosing the Leader themselves.

So, while we see the region full of the kingdoms and family ruling systems, Iran has both been able to remain stable, safe and secure and also to have regular elections…

We’ve seen different people run for office, people who’ve been in parliament for many years, who were later voted out of parliament, and I think that’s healthy for the system itself.

Press TV: As people will take and part in these elections, what do you think would be the main issues on the minds of the voters?

Marandi: I think the most important issue is obviously the economy, but there’s also another issue that’s recently been more widely discussed and that is attempts by foreign governments to influence the elections.

We see that for example the British state-owned media the BBC, its Persian services are trying to take side in the elections and so are other Western-funded news channels.

This is something that of course in the West would be completely unacceptable, but in the case of Iran, it is very clear the Western governments are trying to impose their will on the Iranian population. And that’s something that I think would be great for your pleasure English speaking viewers across the world to take into account.

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