Conservatives set to tighten grip as Iran votes for parliament

Published February 22, 2020
Women line up to cast their votes at a polling station in Tehran on Friday.—Reuters
Women line up to cast their votes at a polling station in Tehran on Friday.—Reuters

TEHRAN: Iran extended voting for a second time on Friday in an election expected to see conservatives loyal to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei cementing their grip on power as the country faces mounting US pressure over its nuclear programme.

The 11th parliamentary ele­c­tion since the 1979 Isla­mic Revolution comes after a surge in tensions between Teh­ran and Washington, and Iran’s accidental downing of a Ukrainian airliner that spa­rked anti-government protests.

As he cast the first ballot in the election, Iran’s Supr­e­me Leader urged all Iran­ians to take part, saying that doing so would “guarantee the country’s national interests”.

Voters formed long queues in the morning at polling stations in south of Tehran, where conservatives have a solid support base. Far fewer were seen waiting to vote in upmarket northern neighbourhoods.

Fars news agency said the official turnout figure would be released on Saturday.

Authorities extended voting for two hours to allow more people to vote, before prolonging it by another two hours to 10:00 pm (1830 GMT).

State television showed images from more than 20 cities and towns of people still queued up to vote while announcing the second extension. The election coincided with an outbreak of the new coronavirus that the authorities say has killed four people in the Islamic republic this week.

Iran fell into a deep recession after US President Donald Trump reimposed sanctions following Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from a landmark nuclear deal in 2018.

Amir Bahador Marzpour, a humanities student in Tehran, was one of the many who shunned the election.

“I didn’t vote because politicians make promises they don’t keep,” the 18-year-old said, voicing concern about runaway inflation.

“There are no jobs for young people, and when we finish our studies we won’t have jobs.” Around half of the 16,033 hopefuls in the election were barred by the powerful Guardian Council, most of them reformists.

Iran’s president, who has come under fire over the slu­g­gish economy, took another hit on Friday as a multinational terrorism financing watchdog reinstated sanctions on the country.

According to the interior ministry, turnout has always been higher than 50 per cent in the 10 previous legislative elections.

Many voters voiced disillusionment.

Real estate worker Ali­reza Hashemi, 25, criticised Rouhani’s government.

“After we elected Rouhani everything collapsed. He signed a very bad (nuclear) deal and looked to the West without any real guarantees,” he said.

But for Mohsen Jallali, the elections were “completely fa­ir... There was a problem with the candidates who were rejected,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.