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Conservatives ahead in Iran poll

DUBAI: Iran’s conservatives clubbed under the “Principlist Front”, have won most of the 141 seats, results of which have been announced.

Iran’s Press TV quoted the Interior Ministry as saying that the Principlist Front had won 108 seats out of a total of 290 so far.

The coalition of Reformists which draws inspiration from the former President, Mohammad Khatami, and cleric Mehdi Karoubi has won in 33 constituencies.

A large number of reformists were disqualified from contesting by the supervisory Guardian Council, loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Analysts point out that the conservative camp is not homogenous, as it contains several “soft” conservatives.

These individuals, led by the former chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, and Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, differ with hardliners loyal to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad mainly on economic policy.

Besides, they advocate greater moderation and a nuanced approach in foreign policy, especially regarding relations with the West and the nuclear issue.

In the results announced so far, the hardliners have taken the lead, with the moderate conservatives standing in second position.

Mr. Larijani has already secured his seat in Parliament.

There is speculation that he could become the new parliamentary Speaker — a move that could position him as a challenger to Mr. Ahmadinejad in the next presidential elections.

Earlier, an Interior Ministry official said the turnout for the polls exceeded 65 per cent. Around 51 per cent of the Iranian electorate cast its ballot in the 2004 elections.

A second round of polling will take place in those constituencies where neither of the top two candidates manages to secure more than 50 per cent of the vote in the first round.

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