Iran
Voter turnout in Iran is lower than hoped for
In Iran after the election of the Parliament and of the Expertenrats the counting of the votes started. However, even though the polling stations six hours longer had been open, were apparently less people to choose as we thought.
In the elections in Iran have well 58 percent of the 55 million eligible voters participated. This informed a spokesman of the Ministry of interior. That left the participation under the prior four years. In the parliamentary elections of 2012 was 64.2 percent located. On election day itself, the authorities had a very large crush talked to and the polling stations, so six more hours left open as originally intended.
The editorial recommends
Iranians don’t really have the choice
Even if the reform forces in Iran have a high voter turnout, it still remain a lot of observers are skeptical. These include the Green politician Nouripur, in an Interview to the Deutsche Welle commented. (26.02.2016)
Landmark election in Iran
The Iranians will choose a new Parliament and a new expert advice – it is the first choice after the Atomabkommen and an important test of the mood concerning President Rohani. The most important questions in the Overview. (26.02.2016)
Election campaign in Farsi
The elections to the Parliament and expert advice have started, but many Iranians are unsure whether they are voting for. Conservative and reformers to advertise – because there is a lot on the game. Theresa Tropper from Tehran. (26.02.2016)
Rohanis reforms and the fear of the “Velvet Revolution”
The Iranians hope for an end to the economic Isolation of their country. Why the powers-that-a normalization of the relationship with the West, but so afraid of, says Iran expert Bahman Nirumand in the DW-Interview. (25.02.2016)
Still no conclusive results
Some media reports of a leadership of the reformers against the hardliners. The Iranian news agencies Fars and Tasnim, in turn, reported that several Conservative stand in a victory already. The spokesman for the Iranian interior Ministry, Hussein Ali Amiri, rejected these reports, however, and warned against speculation. Although there are already first results from smaller constituencies, they are, however, not meaningful. Numbers from the big cities, especially the capital Tehran, were not yet known. In some cities, but it will to a run-off election because the candidates do not have the required number of votes have been given, added the spokesman added.
Test of the mood concerning President Hassan Rohani
To the 290 seats in the Parliament had on Friday 4844 candidates applied, including approximately 500 women. At the same time, found the choice of the Expertenrats instead, a panel of 88 clergy, after the death of the spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei elect a successor. The elections were an important test of the mood concerning President Hassan Rohani, on a majority for the moderate forces hopes. Most of the candidates, the reformers smell, however, not compete.
The Parliament, which since 2004 by the Conservative-dominated, had in the past few years, reforms blocked. Observers believe that the reformers around President Hassan Rohani of the almost 60 percent voter turnout will benefit.
cw/sti (dpa, afp, rtr)