Iran can’t hold referendums on principles of constitution: Political expert
An Iranian political expert has criticized calls by some public figures for referendums on major state policies, saying the government can’t hold referendums on core values of the constitution.
Mohammad Javad Larijani, a former senior diplomat, said the Iranian law allows for referendums, but they can be held on issues of secondary importance, like whether the country can have a prime minister or not.
Such plebiscites can’t be held on key principles like the Sharia law or democracy, he said.
“We can’t hold referendums on Islam. For example a group might ask for referendums on whether to implement some parts of Sharia or not. That’s against the constitution and this issue can’t be put to referendum,” he said.
“Also we can’t hold referendums on the country’s independence. Independence is one of the pillars of the constitution,” Larijani told Khamenei.ir in an interview.
His remarks come in the wake of recent calls for referendums on major state policies, with a former president suggesting such votes can be held to ease divisions inside the country.
Iran’s Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei touched on those calls during a meeting with university students earlier this month, saying many sensitive issues can’t be put to referendum and there’s no similar precedence in other countries.
“Where in the world do they do this? Is it possible to hold referendums on various issues in the country? Do all the people who have to participate in the referendum have the ability to analyze that issue?”
The Leader said the political system allows people to voice their opinion through elections.
“[People] pick someone as president. That’s people’s voice. [They] elect some people as members of parliament. That’s people’s voice,” he said.
Under the constitution, a referendum is possible if two-thirds of parliament votes for it and the guardian council approve it.
Iran held referendums to establish the Islamic Republic system and approve a new constitution shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution.
The country also held another referendum in the late 1980s to amend the constitution.
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