TEHRAN - Iranian lawmakers on Wednesday voted to re-elect Ali Larijani as parliament speaker for another more year.

Incumbent Larijani won 147 votes of 279 lawmakers present in the open session of the parliament.

The competition for the post was between Larijani, the pro-reform Hope leader Mohammad Reza, and Hamidreza Haji Babaee.

In the first round, Aref gained more votes than Larijani. But since he failed to gain the majority another voting took place based on the parliament bylaw.

In the first round, Aref won 123 votes, Larijani 101, and Haji Babaee 54.

In the second round, Haji Babaee withdrew his candidacy in favor of Larijani. 

Haji Babaee is the leader of “Velayee” faction (a principlist group) in the Majlis.  

It is for the 11th year that Larijani, a moderate principlist, is being elected as parliament speaker.

Larijani has come under criticism for his backing for the nuclear deal and his support for the Rouhani administration by certain groups of principlists. 

In the previous parliaments (eighth and ninth parliaments) in which reformists had a small number of representatives in the parliament, Larijani enjoyed the backing of pro-reform lawmakers. 

“Hopefully we would unitedly make efforts in line with solving the people’s problems,” Larijani said after his re-election.

Pezeshkian and Motahari reelected deputy speakers

Masoud Pezeshkian, a reform-minded lawmaker from Tabriz, and Ali Motahari, a principlist and vocal MP representing Tehran, were re-elected deputy parliament speakers.

Pezeshkian won 157 votes out of 279 votes and Motahari won 143 votes.

The two were backed for the posts by the pro-reform Hope faction.

Majlis or Parliament currently has 290 representatives. Lawmakers take the seats for a four-year term.

NA/PA