One-party system adopted by Iran

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33783, 4 March 1975, Page 17

One-party system adopted by Iran

f.V Z.P A.-Reuter—Copyrtgh

TEHERAN. March 3.

Iran, which claims to be the world's oldest monarchy, will have a one-party system, headed by the Prime Minister (Mr Abbas Hoveyda). ’

The Shah of Iran declared at a press conference yesterday that all existing parties should disband and join the new one, to be called the Iran National Resurrection Part y.

He said that the new party would be called on to safeguard the Constitution and the Monarchy. The Shall asked all "patriotic Iranians” to join the new party and added: “Traitors and Tudeh people (members of the outlawed Communist Party) can get their passports and leave the country.” Iran has two main parties at present. In the July, 1971, General Election, Mr Hoveyda’s ruling New Iran Party swept to a landslide victory over the Opposition Mardom (People’s) Partv. In April, 1974, Mr Hoveyda carried out a major reshuffle replacing 13 of the 19-member Cabinet, saying that the change was needed to meet Iran’s present-day requirements stemming from increased revenues and boosted economic growth rate.

He said that the new Cabinet could work to implement the Shah’s reform plans to provide welfare and

j better health and education jfor the people. The Shah said he was abopishing the party system to: •eliminate “favouritism” and I !“clan spirit.” Under the old system, he said, the influence of the: Government party was pre-' venting qualified people from attaining positions of responsibility. The announcement, however, surprised observers, who pointed out that over ;

I recent years the Emperor had encouraged political parities to remain active and to i show imagina.lon on the I political scene. Competition between the parties was good for the ■ nation, he had indicated. ' The four parties abolished are the Government Iran iNovin (New Iran) Party, the | Mardom (People’s) Party, the I Pan Iranist Party and the ‘lranian Party.