Faezeh Hashemi: Some Reformists Betrayed the People by Voting for Ali Larijani as Speaker of the 10th Parliament

Faezeh Hashemi, a member of the Central Council of the Executives of Construction Party, criticized the support of some government members and reformists for Ali Larijani in the election of the 10th Parliament's presiding board, stating: "Some reformists betrayed the people by voting for the presidency of the 10th Parliament." According to IRNA, Hashemi, speaking at a meeting of the 'Nation's Will' party, said: "The people gave a good response in the last elections, and despite many prominent candidates being disqualified, reformists had to compile their lists with new and unfamiliar individuals, yet the people voted for them, which is a sign of public freedom and awakening. Let’s not forget that we, the elites, ruined it." According to Tasnim, Hashemi also noted that reformists were doing "very well" during the parliamentary elections and had the "majority," stating: "Reformists could have formed a majority faction with planning, but we became fragmented, and some reformists supported Larijani." According to the Young Journalists Club, this member of the Central Council of the Executives of Construction Party emphasized that part of the reformists and part of the government, whom they consider reformists, supported Larijani. We had precise information that some ministers supported Larijani. Hashemi added that the failure to elect Mohammad Reza Aref caused problems in the cohesion of reformists, and they could not find their strength and unity. Mohammad Reza Aref, the first representative of Tehran and head of the Hope faction, did not nominate himself for the permanent presidency of the parliament after coming second to Ali Larijani with 103 votes in the interim presidency election in June this year. Hashemi also referred to the activities of reformists in recent elections, stating that the Supreme Council of Reformists did a positive job in the 94 elections but naturally had its flaws and issues. The mere fact that we managed to gather together was a positive action. She added that in the 92 elections, this happened again because we managed to reach a consensus on one candidate and succeeded. Hashemi pointed out the fragmentation of reformists in the 84 elections, stating: "In the 84 elections, we became fragmented and introduced several candidates; of course, that election had some issues, and we doubt whether the result that emerged was real or not." Hashemi's reference is to the number of reformist candidates in the 1384 presidential election, in which Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ultimately won. In this context, Ali Larijani took over the presidency of the 10th Parliament. Aref warned about the interference of security institutions in the election of the parliament's president. "The meeting between Nategh-Nouri and Mohammad Khatami" was for the retention of Larijani in the presidency of the parliament. Mohammad Reza Khatami stated that most reformists support Aref's presidency. Aref stated regarding the presidency of the parliament: "I have no right to ignore the people's wishes."