Hardliners reclaim control of Iranian parliament

IRANIAN conservatives formally reclaimed control of parliament yesterday following disputed elections boycotted by reformists who called the vote a “historical fiasco” in which voters had no free choice.

Candidates considered loyal to Iran’s Islamic rulers took at least 149 places in the 290 seat parliament, which has been controlled by pro-reform MPs since their landslide win four years ago.

That puts conservatives past the 146 seat benchmark for a clear majority. Reformers and self-described independents had taken about 65 seats. The final count is expected today.

The conservative victory was already expected even before Friday’s elections. Reformers widely boycotted the vote after more than 2,400 liberal candidates were banned from running.

The nationwide turnout stood at slightly more than 50%. But in the capital, Tehran, 33% of voters turned out, the Interior Ministry said. It was a noticeable drop from the 67.2% in the 2000 parliament elections.

“Victory in a competition without rivals is not epic but a historical fiasco,” Rasoul Mehrparvar said during an open session of parliament broadcast live on state-run radio.

Mehrparvar, one of the MPs barred from seeking re-election, said hardliners must await God’s punishment.

A drop in voter turnout was seen by reformists as public backing for their drive to weaken the almost limitless controls of the theocracy.

Despite the lower numbers, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all State matters, said he turnout was a “national and an Islamic epic in the true meaning.” However, reformers say voters’ rights had been violated because they could only vote for candidates already chosen by the Guardian Council.

The shift in parliamentary control expands the influence of theocracy and denies liberals a vital forum to challenge the non-elected clerical establishment that has final say in almost all affairs.