Qalibaf re-elected as Parliament speaker for 6th consecutive year
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf on Tuesday was re-elected as Iran’s Parliament speaker for the sixth consecutive year after lawmakers voted to choose members of the legislature’s presiding board.
Qalibaf managed to secure 219 out of 276 votes cast by the lawmakers.
His challenger, Ahmad Rastineh, received 53 votes, while four ballots were declared void.
The final lineup for the speakership included only Qalibaf and Rastineh after Hadi Ghavami withdrew his candidacy moments before the vote, prompting a strong objection from Rastineh.
Earlier in the day, candidates Ahmad Aryaeinejad and Ahmad Beigdeli had also stepped aside in favor of Qalibaf.
According to parliamentary procedures, the presiding board consists of the speaker, two deputy speakers, six secretaries, and three observers.