Iran's parliament elects Qalibaf as new speaker

Tehran, May 28, IRNA – The newly-elected Iranian MPs convened for a second time on Thursday and elected Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf as the Parliament speaker for the first year of the new Parliament. Qalibaf secured 230 votes out of a total of 264 votes cast to become Majlis speaker. Fereydoon Abbasi and Mostafa Mirsalim, the other candidates, gained 17 and 12 votes, respectively after Qalibaf. Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi from Mashad constituency and Ali Nikzad from Ardebil constituency received 208 and 196 votes will be elected first vice-speaker and second vice-speaker, respectively.