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Tehran: The results of the first round of the Iranian parliamentary elections have not only shown around half of the members are new faces, but also increased expectations that the government's economic policy will be the focus of the new parliament, Iranian analysts said.
However, they do not foresee any changes in Iran's foreign policy or other controversial issues with the West, namely Tehran's nuclear programme.
According to official results, nearly 70 per cent of seats decided so far in the 290-member parliament have gone to conservatives. A run-off will be held in the next few weeks.
Analysts said there are between 50 to 60 per cent new faces.
"We believe in new and young political faces," said Hamid Reza Taraqi, former MP and member of the traditional conservative coalition, in an interview with Gulf News.
Inflation
"Some previous conservative members didn't have a good position in their towns, because of this, we introduced new conservative faces," he added.
He denied accusations the conservatives have limited the reformists' chances by excluding large numbers of their candidates.
Reformists, on the other hand, introduced new faces after widespread disqualifications of hundreds of their candidates. Leading reformist figures complained of "discrepancies" during the vote counting and have already asked for a recount in Tehran, which is considered a stronghold for reformists.
However, both reformists and "moderate conservatives" have the upper hand in parliament against "traditional or fundamental conservatives", believe Iranian analysts, saying that the economy will be the main focus of the new parliament.
Prominent Iranian journalist and economist Saeed Laylaz, told Gulf News the "main mission" of the new parliament will be focusing on the economy. Official figures of inflation and unemployment are high. Statistics estimate the inflation rate at around 18 per cent.
Pro-reform journalist Eisa Saharkhiz, said the economic problem cannot be ignored.
"The people's say is the last word in this issue," he told Gulf News.
Both reformists and conservatives trade accusation over the economic problem and blame each other's policies.
Economists, meanwhile, blame the current government's policies for the high inflation in Iran, a top oil producer in the world which is witnessing rocketing oil prices.
"Every one dollar increase in oil prices makes around $1 billion [Dh3.6b) extra income for Iran a year," Laylaz said. "At the moment now, every 24 hours, we are earning $300 million income."
As a result of the economic situation, everybody in the new parliament, Laylaz strongly believes, will try "to have control and more observation over the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's economic policies."
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