Devendra Kumar
Iran’s hard-liners have emerged victorious in the country’s parliamentary runoff election, giving them complete control over the legislature, authorities announced on Saturday. While the exact turnout figures were not disclosed, the election result is likely to cement the hard-liners’ grip on power, allowing them to push through their agenda of cultural and social restrictions based on Islamic sharia. The hard-liners have long advocated for a more conservative and restrictive society, including demands that women wear the Islamic veil in public.
In contrast, those who have called for reform and change in Iran’s government, known as reformists, were largely barred from participating in the election. Radical reformers who sought to abandon the country’s theocratic system were also effectively silenced, either by being banned from running or choosing not to register as candidates. This lack of opposition ensures that the hard-liners will have a clear path to implement their vision for Iran.
The election authority, led by Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, announced the winners on Saturday, with a statement that the election saw “good participation,” but without providing any specific numbers or details. Vahidi also noted that all elected candidates had received an “acceptable” number of votes. The result now needs to be approved by a constitutional watchdog, which is expected to happen next week.
The new parliament will begin its term on May 27, giving the hard-liners the opportunity to shape the country’s laws and policies. While the parliament plays a secondary role in governing Iran, it can still exert significant pressure on the administration, particularly when it comes to deciding on the annual budget and other important legislation. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, however, retains the final say in all important state matters.
This latest development comes on the heels of a disappointing turnout in March, when just under 41% of voters cast ballots, marking the lowest level of voter participation since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that brought Islamists to power. With the hard-liners now fully in control of the parliament, Iran’s political terrain is likely to become even more conservative, with potential implications for the country’s relations with the international community.