TEHRAN -- Iran's top legislative body, the Guardians Council, has approved a new election law that strips the Interior Ministry of responsibility for organizing elections.
A Guardians Council spokesman said that according to the new law, votes will be organized by an election executive council made up of representatives from the three branches of power as well as seven "national, political, social, and cultural" figures.
The council insisted that proposed tougher requirements for presidential candidates be deleted from a draft of the law.
According to a bill approved by parliament in December, election candidates would have needed the endorsement of 100 members of parliament or 25 members of the Assembly of Experts, the body tasked with monitoring the supreme leader's work.
The new law comes ahead of presidential elections due in June 2013.
A Guardians Council spokesman said that according to the new law, votes will be organized by an election executive council made up of representatives from the three branches of power as well as seven "national, political, social, and cultural" figures.
The council insisted that proposed tougher requirements for presidential candidates be deleted from a draft of the law.
According to a bill approved by parliament in December, election candidates would have needed the endorsement of 100 members of parliament or 25 members of the Assembly of Experts, the body tasked with monitoring the supreme leader's work.
The new law comes ahead of presidential elections due in June 2013.
