Final results released by Iran's Interior Ministry showed on
Thursday that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's conservative camp had
been defeated by his opponents in elections held last week.
According to the published figures, moderate conservative mayor
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf's camp won eight seats of 15 at Tehran city
council, reformers got four, Ahmadinejad's followers two and one
went to independent.
President Ahmadinejad's loyalists have suffered a stinging
defeat at the hands of moderate conservatives and reformists in
elections for Tehran city council, media reports said.
The result of Tehran city council election has been delay for
several days to be published.
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Similar result was visible in the final results of an election for
the Assembly of Experts, where Expediency Council Chairman and
centrist Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani defeated Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi
Mesbah-Yazdi, who was widely recognized as Ahmadinejad's spiritual
mentor.
Elections of the 4th Assembly of Experts and 3rd local councils
were held on Dec. 15. The government has been cheering on the
strong turnout of 60 percent in both elections, compared with the
low turnout in the last assembly vote in 1998 of only 46
percent.
The Assembly of Experts has the power to elect, dismiss and
supervise Iran's chief, the supreme leader.
Some 493 people had registered for elections of the assembly
this time but only 165 were qualified to compete for the 86-seat
assembly.
The local councils have a major impact on people's day-to-day
lives through the public services they enjoy. Some 230,000
candidates have been confirmed qualifications to run for 5,400 city
posts and the rest 108,000 rural posts.
(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2006)
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