DATE=2/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRANIAN ELECTIONS (L)CQ
NUMBER=2-259367
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=TEHRAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
//Editors - Resending to put the correct number on
this CR. It should be 2-259367, not 2-259366.//
INTRO: As results continue to come in from Friday's
parliamentary elections
in Iran, the reformist alliance appears poised for a
landslide victory. Correspondent Scott Bobb reports
from Tehran that with two-thirds of the
seats decided, the reformists appear set to control at
least 70 percent of the new parliament.
TEXT: Although election returns from the populous
Tehran district have yet to come in, Iranian observers
following the tally say the margin of victory for the
reformist coalition appears to be widening.
They say conservatives are maintaining their base of
about one-fourth of the seats in an election that
officials say was marked by a record, 80 percent voter
turnout.
Iranian observers already are predicting significant
changes in the next
majlis, or parliament. A professor of political
science at Tehran University, Nasser Hadian, says
although conservatives will continue to control many
powerful institutions in government and society, they
are going to be stripped of one important source of
power in government. This, he says, will present an
opportunity to
the reformists.
///HADIAN ACT.///
Having the control of this majlis, they (the
reformists) may pass some laws
which will further institutionalize democracy and
political freedom in Iran.
And they will strengthen civil society's institutions.
///END ACT.///
Professor Hadian says the reformists could also pass
laws providing a legal structure to protect these
institutions.
Some Iranians have noted that an overwhelming victory
by reformists could lead to pressure for rapid change.
Another professor at Tehran University, Hodi Samati,
says there may be a dispute over the next speaker of
parliament, for example. But he says nobody wants the
reformists to adopt what he calls an emotional agenda
of radical change.
///SAMATI ACT.///
I expect them to be initially operating cautiously and
moving still gradually, although there will be a
minority with the more radical and leftist oriented
agenda. But I think ultimately there will multiple
voices available in the majlis and presented in the
majlis.
///END ACT.///
Election officials say several dozen seats will be
decided in a runoff election, to be held in a few
weeks. And they say the results from Tehran
may take up to a week to be tallied. Nevertheless,
election observers say the results from these late
counts are not likely to change the overall trend,
leading them to predict a landslide victory for
advocates of change. (Signed)
NEB/SB/PLM
20-Feb-2000 06:32 AM EDT (20-Feb-2000 1132 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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