Iranian parliament has approved a preliminary bill to allow cities with over 200 thousand residents to have their mayor directly elected by the public.The bill will become law if it gets final approval in its next reading in parliament.
IRNA reports that 135 MPs voted in favour of the bill with 29 voting against and 14 abstaining.
Currently the mayor is voted in by the city council from amongst the councillors.
Tehrans mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had expressed opposition to the new bill saying the council is well qualified to vote in a mayor.
The critics of the current system say mayors elected by the council do not have the necessary job security to take on their responsibilities.
By Radio Zamaneh
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