Iranians gear up for parliamentary elections
Hard-liners have managed to seize control of the conservative camp, but their victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections is not guaranteed.
TEHRAN, Iran — Over the past year, Iranian conservatives have strenuously sought to reach consensus on how to win the parliamentary elections scheduled for Feb. 26. Prior to that, moderate and hard-line factions had fought each other for a decade for dominance within the conservative camp. At present, the moderates appear to have been defeated. It may seem odd to some, but the moderates are likely to be happy about that.
The hard-liners have strict views on the enforcement of Islamic law and oppose closer relations with the outside world, including the nuclear deal Iran signed with the six world powers. The moderates, who share some views with the Reformists, do not like to be compared with the hard-liners, who are unpopular among the general public. The conservative camp is increasingly defined by orthodoxy, and this is harming the moderates’ image among voters.
