Iranians vote for first time since historic nuclear deal

(Baonghean.vn) - Iranians began voting across the country on February 26 in an election that the moderate president said was crucial to curbing conservative influence in parliament and speeding up domestic reforms after reaching a nuclear deal with world powers last year.

Iranian officials said polling stations could remain open if there were still people queuing to vote. Photo: AFP.

The pro-government coalition called the “List of Hope” represents President Hassan Rouhani’s ambitions in the polls. The country’s 55 million eligible voters will ultimately elect 290 lawmakers.

They will also vote in a second election to elect the Assembly of Experts, a powerful committee of 88 clerics responsible for overseeing the actions of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

While parliamentarians are elected for four-year terms, the council will be allowed to serve eight years. If Khamenei, now 76, dies during that time, members will proceed to choose his successor.

Voting began at 8am local time and ended at 6pm, but officials said polling stations could remain open if there were still large queues and more time was needed to complete the voting process.

Iran's economic indicators (GDP, unemployment rate, inflation, etc.). Photo: AFP.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei went to vote early on February 26, in a televised address, urging people to “quickly go vote, because it is both a duty and a right.”

“Everyone must go and vote, those who love Iran, those who love the Islamic Republic, those who love the power and glory of Iran,” he said on Iranian state television after casting his vote.

“We have many enemies,” he added. “Votes must be an opportunity to frustrate our enemies. We must vote with insight and sobriety.”

As Iran's supreme leader, Khamenei's powers far exceed those of Rouhani, but the Iranian president is seeking more seats in parliament to be allowed to strengthen the nuclear deal through implementing domestic improvements.

The country's economy has been a key focus during the election campaign, as Iran faces the daunting challenge of overcoming the damage caused by nearly a decade of sanctions.

The votes will be a key indicator of the future direction that Iranians want for their country.

The votes will be a key indicator of the future direction Iranians want for their country. Photo: AFP.

“I hope the country’s situation will improve through reforms,” Atefeh Yousefi, a 38-year-old citizen, told AFP while queuing to vote in Tehran, expressing regret for boycotting previous elections.

Rouhani has touted the potential for foreign investment, which he says will create jobs, especially for young Iranians whose unemployment rate is 25 percent, two and a half times the national average.

However, conservatives insist that strong economic growth can only come about if there is a focus on domestic production following the “resistance economy” model that embodied the ideals set out in Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution.

Call on more people to vote

Despite getting the economy back on track after a recession, Iran's president remains insecure as the benefits of sanctions relief and a return to international business take time.

If voters back a pro-Rouhani list, a coalition of moderate and reformist candidates, the Iranian president could shift the balance of power in parliament, ushering in social and political reforms that lawmakers have long blocked.

However, the week-long official parliamentary election campaign is still largely overshadowed by disputes over who is allowed to run.

Thousands of candidates were disqualified - and reformers say many prominent figures were barred from running - raising concerns about the election results.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei casts his vote for the parliament and the Assembly of Experts that has the power to appoint and dismiss the supreme leader on February 26 in Tehran. Photo: Reuters.

A total of 4,844 candidates, 10% of whom are women, are currently running in the National Assembly elections. Only 159 clergy, or one-fifth of the candidates, are seeking a “seat” on the Assembly of Experts.

On February 24, Mr. Rouhani sent a text message urging people to vote, affirming that their participation was necessary “to build a hopeful future for the country,” echoing the campaign message of his allies.

The main conservative faction is led by former Parliament Speaker Gholam-Ali Hadad Adel, who is related by marriage to Iran's supreme leader.

Results outside Iran's capital are expected to be released within 24 hours, while vote counting in Tehran, which has a population of 12 million and elects 30 lawmakers, will take three days.

Thu Giang

(According to AFP)