Larijani Hails High Voter Turnout In Presidential Elections

Tehran, June 18, IRNA -- Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Monday praised massive turnout for presidential elections held nationwide on Friday, saying it led to promotion of might and glory of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Criticizing remarks and statements by certain western officials to downplay the democratic election, he said that it is because of Iranophobia that they cannot see religious democracy available in Iran. Meanwhile, he said that there are many dictatorial governments in the region with good relations with the western governments without an experience of democratic election. Although no elections are held in these countries, the western countries continue to keep silent, he said. He hailed the turnout of more than 72 percent in the presidential election and said that in the past 34 years almost one election has been held in Iran each year. He reiterated that in the recent polls all political traits had a candidate./end