According to Khabar Online's Majlis correspondent, counting the ballots given by the parliamentarians for electing the presiding board of Iran's 9th Majlis led to the reelection of Larijani whose only rival Gholam Ali Haddad Adel received 89 ballots, as 4 other votes out of total 270 were blank.
Earlier on May 28, a day after the legislative body with almost new line up was inaugurated, Larijani had secured the poll as provisional speaker by wining 173 votes out of total 275, while Haddad Adel could win 100 votes.
The transition from provisional to permanent Majlis Speaker demands that all new lawmakers receive their certificates of election. However, based on a tradition, the temporary speaker has gone on to become permanent.
A candidate from the religious city of Qom, Larijani was nominated by the parliamentary group, Rule of Shiite Jurisprudence Wayfarers (Rahrovan Velayat), to run for the parliamentary election and gained almost 60 percent of the ballots in the city.
The speaker of the 7th Majlis, Haddad Adel was nominated by the Society of Wayfarers of the Islamic Revolution's Path (Rahpouyan) and the Resistance Front of the Islamic Revolution (Jebhe-ye Paidari) parliamentary groups.
Earlier in 2008, Haddad Adel competed with Larijani for the post of Majlis Speaker, but he could simply win 51 votes compared to 160 won by his rival. Larijani headed the 8th Majlis during the past four years.
On the other hand, the new lawmakers elected Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabi-Fard who won 232 votes and Mohammad Reza Bahonar who received 179 votes respectively as the first and second Vice-Speakers.
During last years, Larijani has led the lawmakers' criticisms against the unlawful measures taken by the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but Hadad Adel has shown a more moderate attitude toward the incumbent head of government.
281
