Iran announces low election turnout, blames coronavirus ‘propaganda’

The turnout, which was the lowest since the Islamic republic was founded in 1979, is seen as a referendum on the popularity of the country’s rulers

With eight deaths, Iran has the highest death toll from the new coronavirus outbreak outside China

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Women wear masks to help guard against coronavirus in downtown Tehran on Sunday. Photo: AP

Published: 10:19pm, 23 Feb 2020Updated: 10:19pm, 23 Feb 2020

Iran on Sunday announced a 42 per cent turnout in its parliamentary election, the lowest rate since the 1979 Islamic revolution, while its top leader said Tehran’s enemies played up the new coronavirus threat to dissuade people from voting.

With Iran facing growing isolation and threats of conflict over its nuclear stand-off with the United States, and increasing discontent at home, the turnout is seen as a referendum on the popularity of the Islamic republic’s rulers.

“The turnout across the country was 42.57 per cent … In Tehran, it was around 25 per cent. Across Iran, over 24 million people voted,” Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli told a televised news conference. Turnout was 62 per cent in the 2016 parliamentary vote and 66 per cent of voters cast ballots in 2012.

The final results, announced by the Interior Ministry, showed big gains by hardline loyalists close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last say on all state matters.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on stage during a meeting in Tehran. Photo: AFP

In Tehran, a list of hardliners gained 30 seats for the capital, with former commander of the elite Revolutionary Guards, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, topping the list.

Qalibaf’s pedigree as the Guards’ air force commander, a war veteran and a national police chief has endeared him to Iran’s supreme leader, bolstering his chances of becoming the next parliament speaker.

Iran announces low election turnout, blames coronavirus ‘propaganda’

The turnout, which was the lowest since the Islamic republic was founded in 1979, is seen as a referendum on the popularity of the country’s rulers With eight deaths, Iran has the highest death toll from the new coronavirus outbreak outside China

The turnout, which was the lowest since the Islamic republic was founded in 1979, is seen as a referendum on the popularity of the country’s rulers

With eight deaths, Iran has the highest death toll from the new coronavirus outbreak outside China