Constitution

Constitution of the Environmental Party of Iran

The Environmental Party of Iran is a green, independent, democratic, and non-violent political party founded upon the principles of Social Liberalism, freedom, equality, human rights, judicial justice, social justice, sustainable development, environmental values, and civic participation.

The Party respects the ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity of the Iranian nation and works toward the establishment of democracy, environmental protection, sustainable development, the rule of law, and oversight of the implementation of the law.

The Party’s headquarters are located in Stockholm, Sweden.

As the Environmental Party of Iran was established outside Iran, and as free and lawful political party activity based on democratic principles is currently not possible in Iran, all Party documents, including the Statute, Manifesto, and Political Programmes, shall be regarded as temporary draft documents. These documents shall be reviewed, amended, and formally adopted after democratic conditions have been established and the Party commences its official activities in Iran.

The logo of the Environmental Party of Iran consists of a green circle symbolizing nature, life, sustainability, and environmental protection. The circular shape represents unity, solidarity, and collective responsibility toward the country’s land and natural resources. At the center of the circle is a red tulip, symbolizing those who have lost their lives in the cause of freedom throughout the struggles of the Iranian people for democracy, liberty, and popular sovereignty. It reflects the sacrifice and devotion of generations who gave their lives in pursuit of national and human ideals.

The white colour in the emblem symbolizes peace, purity, transparency, honesty, and commitment to the rule of law and human values. It reflects the Party’s dedication to responsible conduct, justice, and the rule of law within society.

The combination of green, white, and red represents the connection between environmental protection, national identity, and the aspirations of the Iranian people for freedom. It also reflects the Party’s commitment to a sustainable, free, and human-centred future. These colours are conceptually and visually aligned with the colours of Iran’s national flag and demonstrate the Party’s respect for national symbols and its connection to Iranian history, culture, and identity.

At the bottom of the emblem appear the name “Environmental Party of Iran” and its Persian equivalent, reflecting the Party’s official identity at both the national and international levels.

Until an official flag of Iran is determined and adopted under a new Constitution, the Environmental Party of Iran shall use the Lion and Sun flag provided for in the Supplement to the Constitutional Law of the Constitutional Revolution; a flag approved by Iran’s first national and democratic parliament, which embodied the will of the Iranian people to achieve law, freedom, and democracy.

Article 1 – Principles and Values

The Party shall operate in accordance with the following principles:

  1. Protection of the environment and natural resources;

  2. Sustainable development and intergenerational justice;

  3. Democracy, freedom, equality, secularism, social justice, and human rights;

  4. Internal party democracy and member participation;

  5. Transparency, accountability, and responsibility;

  6. Political and intellectual independence;

  7. Commitment to civil resistance and non-violent struggle;

  8. Rejection of extremism, discrimination, and violence;

  9. Equal legal and social rights for all citizens;

  10. Respect for Iran’s ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity and acceptance of pluralism;

  11. Democratic nationalism and commitment to the territorial integrity of Iran.

Article 2 – Main Organs of the Party

The principal organs of the Party are:

  1. Party Congress;

  2. Strategic Council;

  3. Secretary-General;

  4. Nomination Committee;

  5. Election Committee;

  6. Independent Auditors;

  7. Ethics and Dispute Resolution Committee;

  8. Specialized Committees;

  9. Regional Branches and International Representations.

Article 3 – Party Congress

  1. The Party Congress shall be the highest decision-making body of the Party.

  2. The Congress shall convene once every two years.

  3. The Congress may be held in person, virtually, or in a hybrid format. All decisions and voting procedures shall have equal validity regardless of the format in which they are conducted.

  4. The Congress shall be quorate at its first session with the participation of at least one-half plus one of the members entitled to vote. Should a quorum not be achieved, a second session shall be convened no less than two weeks later and shall be quorate regardless of the number of members present. Decisions shall be adopted by a majority vote of members present.

  5. All Party members shall have the right to participate, express their views, and vote at the Congress.

  6. The responsibilities of the Congress shall include:

• Adoption of the Party’s general policies and programmes;

• Election of the Secretary-General;

• Election of the members of the Strategic Council;

• Election of the members of the Nomination Committee;

• Election of the Independent Auditors;

• Election of the Election Committee for the next term;

• Adoption of amendments to the Statute and Manifesto;

• Review of financial and organisational reports.

Article 4 – Strategic Council

  1. The Strategic Council shall be responsible for managing the Party’s organisation and implementing the resolutions of the Congress.

  2. The Strategic Council may consist of up to nine full members and three alternate members.

  3. Members of the Strategic Council shall be elected by the Congress for a term of two years.

  4. Members may be re-elected without limitation.

  5. Meetings of the Strategic Council shall be quorate with the participation of at least five members.

  6. Decisions of the Council shall be adopted by a simple majority of the members present.

  7. In the event of a tied vote, the position supported by the Secretary-General shall be deemed adopted.

  8. The Secretary-General shall serve as both a member and Chair of the Strategic Council.

    Article 5 – Duties of the Strategic Council

    The Strategic Council shall be responsible for the following duties:

    1. Implementation of Congress resolutions;

    2. Management of the Party’s administrative and financial affairs;

    3. Coordination of Party branches and committees;

    4. Approval of budgets and operational programmes;

    5. Supervision of the activities and performance of committees;

    6. Presentation of annual financial and organisational reports;

    7. Support for the Party’s political, civic, and environmental activities;

    8. Review of proposals submitted by Party members for presentation to the Congress for approval;

    9. Submission of motions and proposals to the Congress for consideration and adoption.

    Article 6 – Secretary-General

    1. The Secretary-General shall be elected by the Congress through a direct vote of Party members.

    2. The term of office of the Secretary-General shall be two years and shall coincide with the term of the Strategic Council.

    3. Re-election of the Secretary-General shall be permitted without limitation.

    4. The duties of the Secretary-General shall include:

    • Political representation of the Party;

    • Coordination of the Party’s political and organisational activities;

    • Chairing meetings of the Strategic Council;

    • Implementation of resolutions adopted by the Congress and the Strategic Council, in cooperation with the Strategic Council;

    • Communication with media organisations, domestic institutions, and international bodies.

    Article 7 – Nomination Committee

    1. The Nomination Committee shall be an independent body within the Party and shall consist of five members.

    2. Members of the Nomination Committee shall be elected by the Congress.

    3. Members of the Nomination Committee may not simultaneously stand as candidates in any election for which the Committee is responsible for reviewing nominations.

    4. The duties of the Nomination Committee shall include:

    • Reviewing and proposing candidates for the Strategic Council;

    • Proposing candidates for the office of Secretary-General;

    • Proposing Independent Auditors and committee officers;

    • Evaluating candidates and consulting with Party members.

    1. All Party members shall have the right to stand as candidates for any elected Party position, regardless of whether they are endorsed or nominated by the Nomination Committee.

    2. Members wishing to stand for election shall formally notify the Nomination Committee in writing of their intention to do so.

    3. The absence of endorsement by the Nomination Committee shall not prevent any candidate from participating in an election.

    Article 8 – Election Committee

    1. The Election Committee shall consist of five members.

    2. The Election Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that internal Party elections are conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

    3. Members of the Election Committee shall be elected by the preceding Congress for the purpose of administering the subsequent election cycle.

    4. Members of the Election Committee may not stand as candidates for any other Party office during the election cycle they administer or during the immediately following election cycle.

    5. The Election Committee shall maintain impartiality, transparency, and the confidentiality of ballots and voting procedures.

    6. The Election Committee may conduct internal Party elections in person, electronically (online), or through a combination of both methods, provided that the principles of transparency, security, confidentiality, accuracy of voting results, and equal access for members are fully guaranteed.

      Article 9 – Independent Auditors

      1. The Congress shall elect at least three Independent Auditors.

      2. The Independent Auditors shall be responsible for supervising:

      • The Party’s financial affairs;

      • Compliance with the Statute and Manifesto;

      • Administrative transparency and accountability.

      1. The Independent Auditors shall submit an annual report to the Congress concerning their findings and activities.

      Article 10 – Ethics and Dispute Resolution Committee

      1. The Ethics and Dispute Resolution Committee shall consist of three members.

      2. The Committee shall be responsible for examining complaints, resolving internal disputes, and addressing breaches of Party rules and standards by members.

      3. Members of the Committee shall be elected by the Congress.

      4. The primary responsibility of the Committee shall be to review complaints and seek to resolve disputes through dialogue, mediation, and mutual understanding wherever possible.

      5. All decisions of the Committee shall be based on impartiality, the right to defence, transparency, due process, and democratic principles.

      6. Expulsion of a Party member shall only be possible where:

        a. A complaint or proposal has been submitted by one or more Party members;

        b. The Ethics and Dispute Resolution Committee has issued a favourable recommendation; and

        c. At least two-thirds of the members of the Strategic Council vote in favour of expulsion.

      7. Removal or expulsion of a member of the Strategic Council shall require:

        a. A complaint submitted by a Party member;

        b. Approval by a majority of the Ethics and Dispute Resolution Committee; and

        c. The support of at least seventy percent (70%) of the members of the Strategic Council.

      8. Removal of the Secretary-General shall require:

        a. The approval of a majority of the Independent Auditors; and

        b. The support of at least eighty percent (80%) of the members of the Strategic Council.

      9. Removal from the Strategic Council or removal from the office of Secretary-General shall not constitute expulsion from the Party.

      10. Expulsion from the Party may only occur in accordance with the procedure set out in Clause 6 of this Article.

      11. No member may be expelled from the Party prior to a final decision regarding their removal from the Strategic Council or removal from the office of Secretary-General.

      Article 11 – Specialized Committees

      1. The Party may establish Specialized Committees in various fields of activity and policy.

      2. Members may participate in such Committees in accordance with their expertise, professional experience, and areas of interest.

      3. The Chair or Coordinator of each Committee shall be appointed by the Strategic Council.

      4. Specialized Committees shall submit periodic reports to the Strategic Council regarding their activities, recommendations, and performance.

      Article 12 – Regional Branches and Representations

      1. The Party may establish Regional Branches and Representative Offices in different regions and countries.

      2. All Branches and Representative Offices shall operate in accordance with the Statute, Manifesto, and resolutions adopted by the Congress.

      3. Members of officially recognised Party Branches and Representative Offices shall enjoy the right to participate in Congress elections and other internal democratic processes of the Party in accordance with applicable regulations and procedures.

      4. The activities of all Branches and Representative Offices shall remain consistent with the official principles, values, policies, and objectives of the Party.

        Article 13 – Membership

        1. Membership in the Party shall be voluntary.

        2. All members shall be required to pay membership fees as determined by the Strategic Council.

          Until further notice, and pursuant to a decision of the Strategic Council, Party membership shall be free of charge.

        3. All members shall enjoy equal rights and opportunities within the Party.

        4. No discrimination shall be permitted on the grounds of gender, ethnicity, language, religion, sexual orientation, or place of residence.

        5. Members shall be required to comply with the Party’s Statute, Manifesto, policies, and ethical principles.

        Article 14 – Financial Resources and Transparency

        1. The financial resources of the Party shall consist of:

        • Membership fees;

        • Voluntary contributions from members and supporters;

        • Lawful, transparent, and reportable donations and contributions.

        1. The Party shall publish an annual financial report.

        2. All financial contributions received by the Party shall be consistent with the principles of transparency, political independence, and applicable laws and regulations.

        Article 15 – Advisors and Experts

        1. The Secretary-General, members of the Strategic Council, and members of Party Committees may invite independent experts, specialists, and advisors to provide consultation, professional expertise, and recommendations in matters relevant to the Party’s activities and objectives.

        Article 16 – Amendment of Party Documents

        1. Amendments to Party documents, including the Statute, Manifesto, and other official Party documents, may only be adopted by the Party Congress.

        2. Approval of amendments to the Statute, Manifesto, or any other official Party document shall require the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members present at the Congress.

        Article 17 – Dissolution of the Party

        1. The dissolution of the Party may only be proposed and considered where:

          a. A written request has been submitted and signed by at least twenty Party members; and

          b. The proposal has received the support of a majority of the members of the Ethics and Dispute Resolution Committee.

        2. Final approval of the dissolution of the Party shall require:

          a. Approval by two consecutive Strategic Councils; and

          b. The affirmative vote of at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the members present at two consecutive Party Congresses.

        3. The Party shall not be dissolved unless all requirements set forth in this Article have been fully satisfied.