Iranian lawmaker acclaims elections as indicator of democracy

Iranian lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel has praised the Iranian voters for their mass turnout and peaceful participation in the June 14 elections, Press TV reported.

"I believe that holding an election with such glory and splendor in utmost calm... without anyone hurt or a picture torn ... is the majesty, pride and a sign of the refinement of the Iranian nation, and indicates religious democracy and soft power transfer is institutionalized in Iran," Haddad-Adel stated on Wednesday.

"This is really valuable, and helps increase our international status and stabilize law-abidingness in the country," he added.

The former candidate -- who pulled out of the presidential race a few days ahead of the poll to help the principlist camp -- pointed out the distinction between democracy in Iran and in the West, where he said capitalist corporations have the last say in elections.

He made the remarks during a meeting at the Expediency Council's Center for Strategic Research with his reformist rival Hassan Rohani, who won the country's 11th presidential election.

Haddad-Adel said he met with Rohani to offer his congratulations and exchange ideas on the formation of the new government and its cooperation with Majlis and the principlist bloc at the parliament.

"I believe respecting the president-elect is respecting the rule of the majority vote and the nation's vote," he said, adding it was time for the electoral rivals to end competition and join hands.

Iran's eleventh presidential election was held on June 14. On Saturday, Reformist candidate Hassan Rohani was officially named as Iran's next president with 50.7 per cent of the votes.


/Trend/