Iran elections: early results show reformists and moderates lead race
Source: The Guardian
Reports in two semi-official news agencies, Fars and Mehr, indicate hard-liners are the main losers in the vote
Votes are being counted in Irans hard-fought elections with the first unofficial results showing gains for supporters of President Hassan Rouhani that could help promote greater opening to the west and limited advances at home.
Fridays polls for the parliament and the assembly of experts its role is to choose the Islamic Republics clerical supreme leader were extended for nearly six hours due to a turnout that was estimated to have been around 70% and which would likely favour the reformist-moderate camp.
The interior ministry said it had counted 25% of the results by Saturday morning, though a final tally is unlikely to be known before Monday. The preliminary turnout figure was 6o%, it said.
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/27/reformists-and-moderates-lead-race-in-early-election-results
ericson00
(2,707 posts)as well as the money to Hamas, Hezbollah, etc. then I'll be impressed.
Bad Dog
(2,025 posts)When America can run a presidential campaign without one of the candidates talking about banning all Moslems from entering, imposing travel restrictions on those already resident and beefing up Guantanamo with new extra torture powers I'll be impressed.
America was instrumental in a coup that toppled a democratically elected government and installed the autocratic Shah. Israel helped the Shah maintain power. The Iranians have good reason to hate the Americans and Israelis.
What's important is that they're moving on, electing moderates who want to look forward, not backwards.
Imagine living in a World where there's no bogeyman to hate. Some find that prospect terrifying.
iandhr
(6,852 posts)Only if you ignore the fact that women get stoned to death for adultery.
Bad Dog
(2,025 posts)Only if you ignore the armed nutters who shoot up schools.
rpannier
(24,333 posts)in the countries surrounding Iran
6chars
(3,967 posts)Bad Dog
(2,025 posts)Or abdicates. And a lot will depend on who chooses him. Don't hold your breath, Liz has gone on for years and years.
6chars
(3,967 posts)or her, right?
Iran still is very patriarchal even though it's considerably better than Saudi Arabia. Talking about the next leader is tantamount to wishing the death of the current leader so I doubt there'll be any talk until he's actually dead.
I wouldn't be surprised if some paranoid element in the Republican Guard looks at our exchange and sees it as proof of Western plotting to remove the current leader.
iandhr
(6,852 posts)Most of the true modreates are banned from seeking office by "The Gardian council" because they are deemed insufficienty "Islamic" They aren't allowed to run because the regime is well aware that if true reformists were allowed to run who want a relationship with the west they would win hands down.