In the latest parliamentary election in Iran, a group of ultra-conservative candidates, known as an alliance, appears to be leading. This development, as reported by state radio on a Saturday, aligns with prior expectations. The initial results suggest that a list dubbed “trustees,” with hardliner Hamid Rassai atop, managed to secure 17 out of 30 seats in Tehran. This group is recognised as an arch-conservative alliance. The current speaker of parliament, Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, a representative of another conservative faction, also succeeded in retaining his mandate.
The Mehr news agency has reported that the voter turnout in Tehran seemed to be extremely low, with only 24 percent participating in the election, according to unofficial results. Initial reports suggest that nationally, only 41 percent of the eligible voters cast their ballots, marking a historically low level of participation. The trend was also noted in the Shiite pilgrimage city of Qom, the religious stronghold of Iran, where only approximately half of the population turned out to vote. However, the authenticity of these numbers cannot be independently confirmed.
In terms of economic indicators, Iran’s national currency experienced a record low drop. On Saturday, for the first time, the unofficial exchange rate for the euro surpassed 640,000 rials, as stated by the “Bonbast” portal. Over the past ten years, the national currency has seen a drastic depreciation, losing over 93 percent of its value due to factors like political isolation, international sanctions, and an unpredictable future.
On Friday, about 61 million Iranians were summoned to elect a new parliament, or Majles, and the Council of Experts, which is a significant group of Islamic clergy. Unlike in other political systems, candidates in Iran do not represent parties but instead organize themselves into lists. For instance, in Tehran, 30 seats are up for election in the National Assembly, and each alliance is presenting 30 candidates.
Since the revolution of 1979, the political system of the Islamic Republic has been a blend of theocratic and republican elements. The people elect the 290 seats in Parliament every four years. The Guardian Council, an ultra-conservative regulatory body, has the authority to determine the ideological suitability of politicians. Consequently, the citizens usually have the option to choose only from a group of candidates who are system-loyal.
The so-called Guardian Council disqualified numerous critical candidates before the elections. The population is disheartened by the unsuccessful reform attempts over the past few decades. As a result, many people chose not to participate in the voting process.
