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Iranwire – The second round of parliamentary elections in Iran began on Friday amid a subdued atmosphere, with polling stations notably quiet.
The first round of parliamentary elections, held on March 1, witnessed a historically low turnout, with only 41 per cent of eligible voters participating nationwide, dropping to a mere 26 per cent in Tehran, according to official figures from the Ministry of Interior.
At the start of the second round, Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, cast his vote.
He did not address the low turnout.
The first round determined the allocation of 245 out of 290 seats in the parliament, with the current round focusing on the remaining 45 seats, including 16 in the Tehran constituency.
Fundamentalist factions secured 158 seats in the initial round, bolstered by widespread disqualifications by the Guardian Council and low voter turnout.
It is anticipated that these factions aligned with the Supreme Leader will clinch an additional 41 seats in the second round, potentially securing around 200 seats.
Eyewitness reports suggest that many polling stations during this round are quieter than before.
Former President Mohammad Khatami, in a meeting with reformists, expressed frustration over the lack of progress and efficacy in their efforts to influence parliamentary representation.
Khatami suggested a shift in strategy and advocated for a boycott of elections until reforms are implemented.
