Iran announces conclusion of parliamentary elections

Iran's Interior Ministry announced the conclusion of parliamentary elections on Saturday following two rounds of contests among the qualified candidates.

The second round of elections held in 21 of the 31 provinces in the country on Friday, in which the fate of remaining 68 vacant seats and the composition for new parliament, or Majlis, was completed.

Out of about 12,000 registered hopefuls, 6,229 qualified candidates competed for 290 seats in the Majlis, namely, some 21 people competed for each seat in the parliamentary election.

According to local media, the reformists and moderates gained ground in the 10th Majlis elections, but none of the heavyweight political groups have been able to seize the majority.

Out of the 290 seats of the Majlis, 114 will be filled by the reformists and 12 by their moderate allies. The principlists, who are also referred to as conservatives, will occupy 107 seats, Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday.

Independent candidates and religious minorities comprise 52 and five seats of the parliament respectively, according to report.

Also, Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA) drew the balance of power in the new Majlis in favor of reformists with 120 lawmakers, while principlists won 83 seats. According to this report, independents gained 81 seats and religious minorities five.

The ISAN report added that the credentials of one reformist hopeful from Iran's central Isfahan province is still to be approved by the supreme vetting body of the country, Guardian Council.

During the ninth Majlis elections on March 2012, the principlists or the loyalists to Iran's Supreme Leader and powerful clerics had won the majority of about 75 percent in the first round of elections.

The parliament members in Iran are elected by the direct vote of people for four years. The Iranian Majlis can force the dismissal of cabinet ministers by no-confidence votes and can impeach the president for misconduct in office.

The parliament also drafts legislation, ratifies international treaties, and approves the national budget.

Source: XINHUA