Source: ET

Iranian President Hassan Rowhani. PHOTO: AFP

The run-off elections in Iran have served a sotto-voce notice on the hardliners in and out of parliament that their day whilst not yet over, is not indefinite. The moderates and reformists have gained a working majority in the Iranian parliament for the first time in over a decade. The supporters of President Hassan Rouhani won 42 per cent of the 290 seats, which is a whisker short of an outright majority but sufficient to pass the legislation he wants to get on the books. The so-called ‘Independents’ took almost 30 per cent of the seats and a high percentage of them are also said to be reform-minded. Most significantly, women fared particularly well taking 17 seats, more than at any time since the 1979 election. Eleven of the women are considered to be ‘moderates.

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