DATE=2/19/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAN ELECTION (L)
NUMBER=2-259351
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=TEHRAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In Iran, supporters of President Mohammad
Khatami's reformist policies appear headed for a major
victory. Correspondent Scott Bobb reports from Tehran
that results have been announced for one-third of the
seats, primarily in rural areas, and reformists
already have taken the lead.
TEXT: Election officials say voter turnout in
Friday's parliamentary elections was heavy,
approaching the record set in presidential elections
three years ago. Preliminary returns indicate voters
have delivered a clear call for change. About three-
fourths of the next parliament (members) are to be
newcomers and predominantly young.
The government is announcing the winners by name only
and not by political tendency. However, Iranian
experts who are following the tally say reformist and
centrist candidates appear poised to gain control of
the new parliament for the first time since the
revolution. They say conservatives should win about
one-fourth of the seats.
Interior Minister Abdulvahid Mousavi Lari Saturday
praised the vote, saying although the campaign was
competitive, everyone has displayed tolerance of the
results.
/// MOUSAVI LARI ACT. IN FARSI FADE UNDER
///
The minister said both the minority and the majority
have accepted to be bound by the rules of the
political game. He called the result a victory for
the Iranian people.
Iranians heeded the call of their leaders and turned
out early and in large numbers Friday. Lines were
long outside the nation's 36-thousand polling centers.
Many polls closed two hours or more later than the
scheduled time because of the number of voters still
waiting to cast their ballots.
The campaign pitted reformists who advocate greater
freedom in politics and society against conservatives
who fear too much change could undermine the
principles of Iran's Islamic revolution.
A political science professor at Tehran University,
Hodi Hamati, says support for the reformists has
exceeded expectations.
/// HAMATI ACT ///
We are going to have a parliament that is
majority at least -- 65 percent for sure but
maybe 75 percent in all likelihood -- go to the
reformist camp. And that is essentially in a
lot of people's anticipation, out of this very
competitive and energetic and fairly open
campaign.
/// END ACT ///
Professor Hamati says conservatives, who are poised to
become the minority for the first time since the
revolution, appear ready to assume this role.
/// HAMATI ACT ///
I expect them (conservatives) to get in the
neighborhood of 30 percent or maybe even 25
percent of the total seats in the parliament.
And even if 30 percent, this is fairly
representative of the sample of the general
population. And I think, to give them credit,
they have been fairly subdued and have prepared
themselves for that result.
/// END ACT ///
Election officials say final results may take days,
especially in the populous capital of Tehran that is
believed to have voted overwhelmingly pro-reform.
(signed)
NEB/SB/JP
19-Feb-2000 15:18 PM EDT (19-Feb-2000 2018 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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