Iranian reformists eyeing more seats in parliament

TEHRAN, Iran

Iran's reformists have told Anadolu Agency they expect to have a majority of seats in parliament after a strong election performance Friday.

Hossein Marashi, a member of the Executives of the Construction Party, said his Alliance of Reformists and Government Supporters umbrella group would hold 160 seats while their conservative rivals would have 125 MPs in the 290-member parliament.

Iran’s parliament is filled in stages, with 70 MPs to be elected in a second ballot; five MPs come from religious minorities.

Reformists have gained 120 MPs at the first stage; Marashi estimated that they would obtain 40 more in the next round.

Marashi admitted that they did not except such high support, saying: “That was above our expectations.”

He blamed Iran’s economic problems for the conservatives’ fall in support:

“The conservatives were in the majority in parliament for 12 years. During this time, [they] did not succeed in solving the problems of the people.

“Such factors [like] high inflation and economic stagnation, management problems and corruption, have put people off the conservatives.”

He also claimed that Iranians became aware that the conservatives wanted to rule the country alone.

Iran’s Guardian Council of the Constitution, which can veto candidates before an election, had refused many of reformists’ runners last time.

This council provoked outrage nationwide in December when it declined the applications of many reformists, including serving MPs.

The Guardian Council is considered one of the most important institutions in Iran and has 12 members, half of which are assigned by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran has 54.9 million eligible voters who can cast their ballots in 120,000 voting boxes in 53 election centers.