Iranian Moderate Candidates Win Big

In February, 2000 elections, moderate candidates supporting cultural, social and political reforms won substantial gains in the legislature: 170 seats with another 65 to be decided in run-offs.

The election results are seen as a national endorsement of President Khatami's reform programs. The hard-liners won 44 seats, losing control of the parliament for the first time since 1979, when the Muslim clergy came to power. Top officials from Germany and Italy immediately schedualed visits to Iran, in a move to reach out to reformists.