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Iran votes in first elections since landmark nuclear deal Iran votes in first elections since landmark nuclear deal
(about 7 hours later)
TEHRAN — Iranians voted Friday in the country’s first election since its landmark nuclear deal with world powers, deciding whether to further empower moderates backing President Hassan Rouhani or support hard-liners long suspicious of the West.TEHRAN — Iranians voted Friday in the country’s first election since its landmark nuclear deal with world powers, deciding whether to further empower moderates backing President Hassan Rouhani or support hard-liners long suspicious of the West.
Nearly 55 million of Iran’s 80 million people were eligible to vote, and turnout was expected to be very high. Polls were supposed to close by 6 p.m., but the Interior Ministry extended voting time until 11:45 p.m. in the capital. The extension suggests a high turnout, which many believe could aid moderates and reformists. Nearly 55 million of Iran’s 80 million people were eligible to vote. Participation figures and other statistics were not immediately available, though Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli predicted late Thursday there would be a turnout of 70 percent.
Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli predicted late Thursday that turnout would be at 70 percent. Authorities said election workers had begun counting ballots and that results would be expected Saturday. Polls had been scheduled to close at 6 p.m., but the Interior Ministry said it would extend voting time until 11:45 p.m. in the capital, which also suggested a heavy turnout. Authorities said election workers had begun counting ballots thereafter.
Early results Saturday morning showed reformists and moderate conservatives leading in the race for parliament. None of the three competing political factions appeared to have won a majority alone in parliament, but reformists seeking greater democratic changes looked to be heading to win their strongest presence in the legislature since 2004, at the expense of hard-liners.
Officials were yet to release early results, but reports in the semi-official Fars and Mehr news agencies and a count conducted by the Associated Press show that hard-liners appear to be the main losers of the vote.
The elections for Iran’s parliament and a powerful clerical body known as the Assembly of Experts are tightly controlled by the establishment headed by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which ultimately determines who can run. But within the range allowed by that establishment, the voting also may provide a referendum on Rouhani’s policies and his promises that the nuclear deal, the lifting of most international sanctions and a greater degree of opening to the West can help boost a battered economy — a top concern for most voters.The elections for Iran’s parliament and a powerful clerical body known as the Assembly of Experts are tightly controlled by the establishment headed by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which ultimately determines who can run. But within the range allowed by that establishment, the voting also may provide a referendum on Rouhani’s policies and his promises that the nuclear deal, the lifting of most international sanctions and a greater degree of opening to the West can help boost a battered economy — a top concern for most voters.
On social media, Iranians shared images of filled-out ballots, inked fingers and long lines at some polling places. The voting largely appeared to taken place smoothly, with Iranians using their mobile phones and campaign lists to write the names of their favored candidates on blue parliamentary and brown Assembly of Experts ballots in mosques, subway stations, schools and other polling sites. On social media, Iranians shared images of filled-out ballots, inked fingers and long lines at some polling places. The voting largely appeared to have taken place smoothly, with Iranians using their mobile phones and campaign lists in writing the names of their favored candidates on blue parliamentary and brown Assembly of Experts ballots in mosques, subway stations, schools and other polling sites.
In Tehran, voter Hossein Gerami said he backed reformists to support Rouhani.In Tehran, voter Hossein Gerami said he backed reformists to support Rouhani.
“The country suffered under hard-liners,” he said. “Today is the time to change Iran for the better.”“The country suffered under hard-liners,” he said. “Today is the time to change Iran for the better.”
Sakineh Mamoudi, who backed hard-liners, said she worried about Western influence growing in Iran.Sakineh Mamoudi, who backed hard-liners, said she worried about Western influence growing in Iran.
“I voted for those who protect the values of the revolution and oppose foreign domination of the country because I don’t want pro-West figures to get control of the parliament,” Mamoudi said. “I voted for those who protect the values of the revolution and oppose foreign domination of the country, because I don’t want pro-West figures to get control of the parliament,” Mamoudi said.
The nuclear deal has been the centerpiece of Rouhani’s policies since he was elected in 2013, and its finalization won Iran relief from most international sanctions against it. Throughout the talks process, the president and the negotiating team had to push against hard-liner opposition, although Khamenei eventually gave his consent to the final result. Now reformists want to build on that opening to the world, promising improvements in the economy.The nuclear deal has been the centerpiece of Rouhani’s policies since he was elected in 2013, and its finalization won Iran relief from most international sanctions against it. Throughout the talks process, the president and the negotiating team had to push against hard-liner opposition, although Khamenei eventually gave his consent to the final result. Now reformists want to build on that opening to the world, promising improvements in the economy.
The hard-line camp is largely made up of loyalists of Rouhani’s predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who during his two terms in office avidly stoked tensions with the United States and cracked down on internal dissident. The hard-line camp is largely made up of loyalists of Rouhani’s predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who during his two terms in office avidly stoked tensions with the United States and cracked down on internal dissent.
The vote is unlikely to radically change Iran, but reformists and moderates peeling away seats from hard-liners could help Rouhani push through his domestic agenda. Reformists say that about 200 of their 3,000 would-be candidates were allowed to run after the unelected Guardian Council vetted and disqualified many, often on grounds of insufficient “loyalty” to the Islamic republic.The vote is unlikely to radically change Iran, but reformists and moderates peeling away seats from hard-liners could help Rouhani push through his domestic agenda. Reformists say that about 200 of their 3,000 would-be candidates were allowed to run after the unelected Guardian Council vetted and disqualified many, often on grounds of insufficient “loyalty” to the Islamic republic.
That means the reformists are unlikely to attain a majority, but they and their allies could still win a substantial bloc of the parliament’s 290 seats. Lawmakers serve four-year terms.That means the reformists are unlikely to attain a majority, but they and their allies could still win a substantial bloc of the parliament’s 290 seats. Lawmakers serve four-year terms.
Voters also picked representatives for the Assembly of Experts, an 88-seat body of clerics charged with selecting the replacement for the supreme leader from among its members. The assembly is elected every eight years, and there is a chance its members may need to find a successor for Khamenei, who is 76 years old and underwent prostate surgery in 2014, renewing speculation about his health.Voters also picked representatives for the Assembly of Experts, an 88-seat body of clerics charged with selecting the replacement for the supreme leader from among its members. The assembly is elected every eight years, and there is a chance its members may need to find a successor for Khamenei, who is 76 years old and underwent prostate surgery in 2014, renewing speculation about his health.
Whatever the outcome, Iran faces major economic challenges including bad bank debt, high unemployment and the need to push through subsidy reforms, said Cliff Kupchan, chairman of the Eurasia Group.Whatever the outcome, Iran faces major economic challenges including bad bank debt, high unemployment and the need to push through subsidy reforms, said Cliff Kupchan, chairman of the Eurasia Group.
The election “will either reinforce or atrophy the momentum that Rouhani has from the nuclear deal,” Kupchan said. “That momentum could affect the tectonic plates of the Iranian political system over the medium term.”The election “will either reinforce or atrophy the momentum that Rouhani has from the nuclear deal,” Kupchan said. “That momentum could affect the tectonic plates of the Iranian political system over the medium term.”
— Associated Press— Associated Press