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By Aynur Karimova
Today, Iranians vote for the future of the country as the Islamic Republic is holding two crucial elections to define 290 members of the Parliament and 88 members of the Assembly of Experts.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the elections have an added importance as he cast his vote in the opening hours of the voting at a polling station in Tehran on February 26.
“Elections are always important but in certain junctures they have more importance,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, who expects a huge turnout at the elections, called the elections an independence and sovereignty symbol of the country.
After casting votes at the Parliament and the Assembly of Experts elections in Tehran, Rouhani said that the next-elected parliament with any composition based on people's decision is honorable, respectful and all should revere to majority's vote.
Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Ali Larijani, in turn, announced that the newly-elected parliament should set economy as priority.
He mentioned the economic boom, getting out of recession and efficiency as priority issues set as a goal before the next parliament, Mehr news agency reported.
After casting his vote, Larijani said that strong composition of next parliament would help the country to come out of recession.
"The new parliament should handle the existing problems, as well as ratify new laws and handle the income of foreign investments," he stressed.
Some 4,844 candidates are competing for seats at the Iranian Parliament and the Assembly of Experts, while about 55 million Iranians are eligible to vote. Each nominate should get at least 25 percent of votes in his constituency, otherwise the second round of elections will be held a month after the results of first round are announced.
Trend New Agency reports that electors show significant interest in voting process. A voter speaking to Trend said “our duty is to participate in the voting to decide on the country’s future, our own fates.”
Another voter said that regardless of the results, the huge turnout at elections would strengthen the Islamic Republic and the development of the country.
Mohammad Hashemi Rafsanjani, a member of the Expediency Council, believes that the number of voters will indicate how hopeful people are about rendering their future themselves.
Asked about his opinion of the next parliament’s priorities, he told Trend that the parliament is the country's legislative body and will have to consider all issues when the occasion comes up.
"It has to take care of all political, economic, and cultural issues and more,” he noted.