DATE=2/22/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAN ELECTIONS (L)
NUMBER=2-259443
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=TEHRAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In Iran, the nearly completed count of votes
from parliamentary elections confirms that reformists
advocating greater freedom in Iran will dominate the
next parliament. V-O-A's Scott Bobb in Tehran reports
reformist leaders have held a news conference to mark
their victory.
TEXT: Leaders of the Islamic Iran Participation Front
told reporters in Tehran (Tuesday) they were not
surprised by their victory, nor by the desire for
change that it shows.
Front leader Mohammadreza Khatami said they were
surprised only by how overwhelming the support is.
/// KHATAMI ACT ONE ///
All of this election was (surprising) for all
people. We knew what was happening in the
society of Iran.
/// END ACT ///
Dr. Khatami explained that the first priority of his
group in the parliament, or majlis, is to deliver on
its promise of political reform.
/// KHATAMI ACT TWO ///
Political development is [our] first priority in
the next majlis. So [is] the free information
system, like press, and the other thing, the free
election, I think those are the first priority in
the next Majlis.
/// END ACT ///
Dr. Khatami -- the younger brother of President
Mohammed Khatami -- heads a new generation of
politicians that is expected to dominate the
parliament. He received two out of every three votes
cast in Tehran.
/// OPT /// Running second in the capital is
Jamileh Kadivar, the sister of an imprisoned prominent
reformist. The brother of another imprisoned
reformist, Ali Reza Nouri, is running third in Tehran,
followed by the brother of the Supreme Leader, Hadi
Khomenei. /// END OPT ///
Reformists also swept the vote in other major cities in
Iran, taking all 10 seats in Mashad and Isfahan, and
two of the three seats in Bandaar Abbas.
/// REST OPT ///
The leader of the Participation Front in Isfahan, Ali
Mazreui, said voters there want the same changes as
voters in Tehran, though priorities differ according to
class.
/// MAZREUI ACT ///
It depends (on) the class of the people. The
middle class and upper class, they are asking for
more freedom. But the lower class, they are
asking for economic problems (to be solved).
/// END ACT ///
Election officials have released results from all but a
few hundred voting centers in Tehran. According to the
results, Participation Front candidates have taken all
but three of the 30 seats in the city.
/// OPT /// The performance of former Iranian President
Hashemi Rafsanjani has been followed with particular
attention because of reports that he would seek to be
speaker of the next parliament. Official results show
that the former president has won a seat in parliament
in the first round, although he finished at the end of
this list. /// END OPT /// (Signed)
NEB/SB/JWH/LTD/KL/Mideast
22-Feb-2000 12:56 PM EDT (22-Feb-2000 1756 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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