Voting for the remaining seats in Iran’s parliament took place on Friday, with a runoff election being held after hard-line politicians dominated the March balloting. The voting, which was extended for four hours due to it being a weekend holiday, saw people in 22 constituencies across the country electing 45 representatives from a pool of 90 candidates, with 15 of them being considered moderate. In the capital city of Tehran, 16 representatives were chosen from 32 candidates, all of whom were hard-liners. Ultimately, Iran’s parliament plays a secondary role in governing the country, as the final decision-making power lies with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He emphasized the importance of the runoff election, stating that it was as significant as the main one.
Various Iranian leaders, including President Ebrahim Raisi, participated in the voting process. The new parliament is set to begin its term on May 27. The previous election in March saw the hard-liners winning 200 out of 245 seats, with more moderate candidates capturing the remaining 45 seats. The voter turnout for the March election was just under 41%, with a total of 25 million ballots cast, marking the lowest turnout since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that brought Islamists to power. The exclusion of politicians advocating for government reforms, known as reformists, from the election contributed to the lack of voter engagement. Additionally, those pushing for radical changes in Iran’s theocratic system were either banned from running or chose not to register as candidates.
The runoff election serves as a continuation of the political landscape established in the March balloting, further solidifying the representation of hard-line politicians in Iran’s parliament. As the final results were expected to be announced by Monday, the outcome of the runoff was anticipated to maintain the dominance of hard-liners in the legislature. The limited presence of moderate candidates in the election highlighted the challenges facing those advocating for more moderate or reformist policies in Iran. The consolidation of power among hard-liners in the parliament could potentially lead to a continuation of conservative policies and a further entrenchment of the existing political system.
Despite the restricted political environment in Iran, the voter turnout in both the March election and the subsequent runoff demonstrated a level of civic engagement among the Iranian population. The participation of millions of voters in the electoral process underscored the importance of political representation, even within the constraints of a system dominated by hard-line factions. As the new parliament prepares to assume its duties, the dynamics of power within the legislative body will shape the direction of Iran’s domestic and foreign policies. The influence of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the dominance of hard-liners in the parliament will continue to be key factors in determining the country’s trajectory in the coming years.
