Conservatives win majority in Iranian parliamentary elections

Both conservatives and reformists are claiming victory in Iran’s parliamentary elections, held on March 14, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Golnaz Esfandiari. The conservatives have won a majority of the seats, she said, but the reformists have managed to gain forty seats despite massive disqualifications of their candidates.

The government says that turnout was around 60%. In Tehran it was 40%, and some critics say it was lower. There are reports that some Iranians didn’t vote because they didn’t believe that the elections were free or fair, or because they didn’t see them as offering any real choice.

Yet the elections have brought some change. Ahmadinejad may have a more difficult time with the new parliament, she said, because many of the hardliners elected are from a group that opposes has criticized his foreign and economic policies.

For the full briefing, click here.