Persian legislative election, 1926

Persian legislative election, 1926

All 132 seats to the National Consultative Assembly

Prime Minister before election Zoka-ol-Molk Elected Prime Minister Mostowfi ol-Mamalek

The elections for the sixth Majlis ended on 27 June 1926.^[1]

Electoral fairness

The election was the first one encompassed by the reign of Reza Shah as the king. To ensure that deputies remained pliant, the shah took away parliamentary immunity and banned all political parties.^[2] It was the only election retained some credibility until Iranian legislative election, 1944, since its elections were not wholly manipulated. A few critics of Reza Shah managed to win seats in Tehran, including Hassan Modarres who gained the highest number of votes, Mohammad Mossadegh, Hassan Mostowfi and Hossein Pirnia.^[3][4]

According to a report by British minister plenipotentiary dated as early 1926, "the Persian Majles cannot be taken seriously. The deputies are not free agents, any more than the elections to the Majles are free. When the Shah wants a measure, it is passed. When he is opposed, it is withdrawn. When he is indifferent, a great deal of aimless discussion takes place."^[5]

References

1. آشنایی با تاریخ مجالس قانونگذاری در ایران دوره اول تا دوره شانزدهم [History of Legislatures in Iran (1285–1328)] (in Persian). Majlis Research Center. 2005 [1384]. p. 125.
2. Abrahamian, Ervand (2008). A History of Modern Iran. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. p. 73. ISBN 978-0521528917.
3. Azimi, Fakhreddin (2008). Quest for Democracy in Iran: A Century of Struggle Against Authoritarian Rule. Harvard University Press. p. 56. ISBN 0674027787.
4. Azimi, Fakhreddin (December 13, 2011) [December 15, 1998]. "ELECTIONS i. UNDER THE QAJAR AND PAHLAVI MONARCHIES, 1906-79". In Yarshater, Ehsan. Encyclopædia Iranica. 4. VIII. New York City: Bibliotheca Persica Press. pp. 345–355. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
5. Abrahamian, Ervand (1982). Iran Between Two Revolutions. Princeton University Press. p. 138. ISBN 0-691-10134-5.