Iran: Khatami calls vote results an endorsement of reformist policies

Source: Radio Zamaneh

Former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami issued a statement following the widespread success of reformists in the parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections, saying the people have expressed their support for the policies of the Rohani administration, and he called for the implementation of reformist policies.

Mohammad Khatami

In a statement on Monday February 29, Khatami said the people's votes "carried the message that the people want security, progress and a stable system."

He said the elections "achieved the consolidation of the forces that want to reform the country's affairs."

He went on to urge the elected candidates to work hard to provide for the people's demands "for prosperity and improvement in the people's livelihoods and creating a healthy political space."

Mohammad Khatami is under a media ban by the Islamic Republic authorities for his involvement in the election protests of 2009. However, he rallied people to vote in a video message before the elections.

Reformists outnumber conservatives in next Parliament

The final vote count in Iran reveals 83 reformists, 78 conservatives, 60 independents and five minority representatives have won their seats in parliament.

A reformist voting in Tehran for the "list of hope" on Friday February 26, 2016

ISNA reports that of the 290 seats in parliament 226 have been filled and another 128 candidates have moved to a second round of elections for the remaining 64 seats. The second round will be held in April, according to the minister of interior.

Reformists remained the 30 top winners in Tehran with Mohammadreza Aref at the top of the list.No conservatives were elected in the Capital.

The victory of reformists in Tehran has left out a number of prominent conservative figures from parliament including Hassan Aboutorabi, the deputy of the current parliament.

Of the current 12 members of the parliament's presiding board, only five managed to win a seat in the first round of elections and another two may win their seats in the second round of the campaign.

The current speaker of the parliament Ali Larijani however managed to win a seat as the second representative from Qom. Larijani won his campaign with partial support from both the reformist and the conservative camps.

Meanwhile the final results indicate that 14 women have won seats in the coming parliament and another eight have managed to move up to the second round of elections.