Qalibaf Re-Elected as Parliament Speaker for 4th Consecutive Year

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf was re-elected as speaker of the Iranian parliament for the fourth consecutive year during a May 23 session marred by conflict over the election of a deputy speaker.

Ghalibaf's re-election was backed by 210 lawmakers out of a total of 281 voters. His challengers Elias Naderan and Fereydon Abbasi received 47 and seven votes, respectively.

First deputy speaker Abdolreza Mesri also won re-election, but the second deputy speaker, Ali Nikzad, lost his seat to Mojtaba Zulnouri in a fierce competition that led to a tie and growing tensions in the chamber. Nikzad ultimately agreed to withdraw his candidacy.

Ahead of the session, Nikzad faced accusations of not respecting his commitments. 

"While Zulnouri and Mesri were selected as vice-speaker candidates in the Revolution faction yesterday, Ali Nikzad violated this commitment and became a candidate for vice-speaker," the Jamaran news website reported.