Conservatives supporting Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have defeated supporters of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. 255 candidates passed the first round of vote, Mehr cites Interior Minister Moustafa Mohammad Najar as saying.
Conservatives got over 200 out of 290 seats at the parliament, reformers got 20. This means that the number of reformers dropped threefold. No winner was determined at 65 polling stations in the first round, next vote will be held no sooner than in April with 130 candidates.
Only 65% of citizens voted, dropping by 10% compared with 2008. Liberal opposition does not believe in the figures, pointing out that 48% attendance in Tehran is doubtful, because the city notable for protests in 2009. No mass protests are expected this year due to confrontation with the US and Israel.
Progressive parties did not take part in campaigning in 2012. The United Front of the Conservatives was the favourite, followed by the Front of Sustainable Islamic Revolution.
Citizens were urged to demonstrate solidarity and support of Iran’s foreign policy, head of the National Olympic Committee Doulat Abadi said.
Conservatives formed five blocs in Tehran: the Single Front of Conservatives of Ayatollah Mohammedrza Mandavi Keni, Front for Stavbility of the Islamic Revolution of Ayatollah Mohammedtagi Misbakh Yazdi, Resistance Front of Mokhsin Rezai, Voice of People of Ali Mutakhari and Understating and Revival of Shakhabeddin Sadri.
Ahmedinejad lost even in his home city of Garmsar, where the president’s sister Parvan Ahmadinejad was campaigning.
Iranian Interior Minister Moustafa Mohammad Najar said that active voting is “a face slap for the foreign enemy”.
