Baku, Azerbaijan, March 10
By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said the high turnout in the country's recent general elections displayed the nation's trust to the Islamic System.
"Demonstrating high turnout at the elections, people proved in action their trust in the Islamic System," the supreme leader's official website quoted him as saying at a meeting with the members of the Assembly of Experts at his office March 10 morning.
Iranians went to polling stations on Feb. 26 to vote in elections for the 290-seat parliament and the 88-seat Assembly of Experts, a powerful clerical body that appoints the country's supreme leader.
Ayatollah Khamenei described the elections as meaningful, saying the participation of 62 percent of eligible voters is a high turnout compared with many other countries, even the US.
The supreme leader added that attempts were made to say the elections were not competitive, but they were such, as different political groups participated in the elections with various slogans.
He further added that Iranian voters cast ballots on their own will, while there are no obligations in the country forcing people to participate in the elections.
Iran's February parliamentary election saw a moderate, pro-government coalition of pragmatic conservatives, centrists and reformists winning 136 seats out of 290.
Candidates will compete to secure 64 remaining seats in the second round elections for the parliament.
Commentators believe that the outcome of the elections will help President Hassan Rouhani's government to enact economic reforms that will attract foreign investment.