Turnout for parliamentary election will deal a blow to enemies: Supreme Leader

TEHRAN, Jan.10(MNA) -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei commented on Iran’s next parliamentary election, which will be held on March 2, and said, “Through divine grace, the people’s turnout for the upcoming Majlis election, as one of the manifestations of the people’s (participation) in (determining) the country’s destiny, will be an enthusiastic and enemy-destroying turnout, and all officials and candidates have a responsibility to pave the way for a sound and competitive election through full commitment to the law.” For a very long time, the domineering powers and their “lackeys” have made extensive efforts to “depress the people’s turnout for Majlis elections,” he stated. The United States, Britain, and the Zionist regime are trying to undermine the Majlis election, he added. Ayatollah Khamenei also said that elections revitalize the Islamic establishment, but there are certain dangers on the path which the people should avert through vigilance. “Elections are a manifestation of the people’s presence and their results are a manifestation of the people’s demand and their votes, and all should respect them,” he added. In addition, Ayatollah Khamenei commented on the political unrest that occurred after the Iranian presidential election of June 2009, saying that after every election, there are people who protest against the results and “in such a situation, the law has determined the path. But in the (13)88 election, some took the path of flouting the law, inflicting losses on the country and the people, heartening the enemy, and carrying out the enemy’s intended plans. However, they got nowhere since the people were present on the scene, and as long as the people are on the scene, no one in the country can advance illegal moves.” He also called on the authorities in charge of running the election, including the Interior Ministry and the Guardian Council, to make the utmost efforts to safeguard the votes of the people and to be aware that “no one is above the law.” He added that over the past 32 years, more than 30 clean elections have been held in the country, all of which reflected the people’s votes. All eyes are on Iran’s next parliamentary election, Ayatollah Khamenei stated.