Legislative in Iran: a ballot marked by abstention, counting is underway

Text by: RFI Follow

The counting of the ballots has started in Iran. The population was called yesterday, Friday February 21, to elect the deputies of the Majlis. The participation rate is announced below 50%. Part of the Iranians reject an oppressive system and also criticize the invalidation of part of the reformist candidacies.

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The polling stations remained open until midnight, five hours more than expected, to give more chances to the undecided to vote , reports our special envoy, Oriane Verdier . This is particularly the case in Tehran where abstention was particularly strong. But a large part of the abstainers had decided long before not to go to the polling stations. According to them, it is the only means of resistance in a country where opposing the authorities head-on can be dangerous.

For many Iranians, voting reformist or conservative did not seem to change much anyway since from their point of view the two main streams of Iranian politics support the same system.

I went through a polling station but I did not enter it. It was inside the metro so I had to pass by. But I did not hesitate: whether we vote or not, it will not change anything in my opinion ... Both parties support the government and the system, and they do what they are told

These musicians met in a park in the capital vote them "abstention": listen to this report from our special correspondent

It was, however, the Conservatives who announced themselves in a clear majority in the new composition of Parliament. The final results will not be known until tomorrow Sunday, but the Iranian agency Fars announces that they will obtain 60% of the seats.

A result expected especially after the invalidation of many reformist candidates by the Council of Guardians of the Constitution, the body in charge of supervising the elections, before the ballot. In some constituencies, the Conservative candidates were not opposed to any reformer.

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