TEHRAN – Deputy Majlis Speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar has said those reformists who have the intention to run for the March parliamentary election should clarify their stance toward “leaders of sedition” and figures who were involved in the incidents that occurred after the 2009 presidential election.   

Bahonar, the secretary general of the Islamic Society of Engineers, made the remarks during a press conference on Monday. 

The principlist MP also said that reformists are allowed to contest the election under any banner, but they should first provide a clear and recognizable definition of reformism. 

Commenting on principlists’ main rivals in the parliamentary election, he said principlists will have serious competition with reformists and elements associated with the currents of sedition and deviation. 

He added that deviationists have established connections with people in positions of wealth and power in a bid to gain seats in the parliament.  

On principlists’ attempts to foster internal unity, he said the newly established principlists’ unity committee is keen to negotiate with various principlist groups to prevent disunity in campaigns for the parliamentary polls. 

Elsewhere in his remarks, Bahonar discounted the possibility of government intervention in the election, saying that it is natural for concerned groups to advise the government to do its utmost to safeguard people’s votes. 

President’s silence on election welcomed 

Bahonar also said that he welcomes President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s decision not to get involved in the parliamentary election.  

“Administration is charged with holding elections and its engagement in election campaigns is not in the national interest, so we welcome Ahmadinejad’s silence,” he said.