International
Iran’s parliamentary elections conclude after 16 hours amid low turnout concerns
Iran closed polling stations at midnight after 16 hours and three extensions of the voting period in parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections, dominated by conservatives amid popular discontent threatening low turnout.
Around 60,000 polling stations opened at 8 a.m. local time (04:30 GMT) nationwide and closed at midnight local time (20:30 GMT) after three extensions of the initially planned schedule, reported Iran’s Electoral Commission.
Some 15,200 candidates – including 1,713 women – are competing for the 290 seats in Parliament, while 144 clerics are running for the 88 Assembly of Experts positions, the body that selects Iran’s Supreme Leader in case of vacancy.
This body is elected every eight years and could play a decisive role in this term, as Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is already 84 years old.
The elections come dominated by the conservative bloc, which now holds a parliamentary majority, following the disqualification of numerous reformist candidates, casting doubt on the freedom of the elections and, in some cases, calling for a boycott.
Khamenei was the first Iranian to cast his ballot in a televised event, calling once again for voting to “disappoint the enemies” amid apparent voter indifference.
“Make our friends happy and disappoint our enemies. Please vote,” said the Iranian Supreme Leader.
In contrast, hundreds of activists, politicians, students, and professors have called for abstention in the elections, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, who views the boycott as “a moral obligation for Iranians who love freedom and seek justice.”
Participation
Polls indicate turnout between 30% and 41%, compared to the 42% in the 2020 parliamentary elections, the lowest level in the history of the Islamic Republic, which has always attached great importance to a high number of votes as proof of its legitimacy and popular support.
Thus, these elections gauge the level of discontent among the population with the Islamic Republic after police repression against protests sparked by the 2022 death of young Mahsa Amini after being detained for not wearing the Islamic veil properly, with 500 protesters killed in clashes with security forces.
Chosen and Forced Vote
From newlyweds voting in Saveh, near Tehran, to a taxi driver in Gorgan claiming to have persuaded 250 undecided voters to cast ballots, people across Iran expressed varying sentiments about the electoral process.
“I voted to show my support for the Islamic Republic and to frustrate the enemies. Our participation shows the world that the system has a lot of public support,” said 52-year-old homemaker Fatemeh in central Tehran.
At a polling station in downtown Tehran, about 10 people waited to vote, a situation similar to the four centers visited by EFE.
However, 56-year-old government employee Ali Reza expressed a different opinion, stating, “I voted against my will. In companies, especially government ones, they always monitor who has voted and who hasn’t.”
Protests
Amid the election day, singer Shervin Hajipour announced a sentence of three years and eight months in prison for “propaganda against the system and incitement to disturbances” due to his song “Baraye” (For), the anthem of protests.
The song’s chorus, “Woman, life, freedom,” echoed in Iran during the months of protests calling for the end of the Islamic Republic.
This sentiment remains strong among many in Iran, especially youth and women.
“Voting in the elections of the Islamic Republic would make me an accomplice to its crimes,” said Maryam to EFE days before the elections in Tehran.
International
WHO warns of increased disease outbreak risk in Venezuela amid low vaccination coverage
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of an increased risk of disease outbreaks in Venezuela, including vaccine-preventable illnesses, due to low immunization coverage across the country.
“The vaccination coverage in Venezuela, particularly against measles and other diseases, was already low, so the risk of measles cases and other illnesses is currently high,” said Ciro Ugarte, director for emergencies at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the WHO’s regional office.
Speaking during a video conference with journalists, Ugarte said the risk is especially high in shelters, where overcrowding could significantly accelerate the transmission of infectious diseases.
He also highlighted water quality as an additional concern in the aftermath of the disaster, noting that safe drinking water is not guaranteed in the most affected areas.
“Unfortunately, supply is scarce, making it very difficult to assess conditions in all shelters. That is why evaluating the quality of water provided to the population, especially in large shelters, is a priority,” he said during a briefing in Geneva.
Ugarte suggested that targeted vaccination campaigns could be deployed against mosquito-borne and other vector-transmitted diseases, particularly in overcrowded shelters and in areas where people remain displaced.
According to PAHO, eight health facilities have been assessed so far, all of which require assistance, with three reporting structural damage.
He also stressed that the José María Vargas Hospital, one of Caracas’s major public reference hospitals, requires urgent support due to critical conditions. The facility is currently treating 96 patients in an eight-bed unit, while its blood bank is operating at extremely low levels.
In La Guaira, the Rafael Medina Jiménez Hospital has reduced its capacity from 108 to 35 beds. Additionally, 22 other health centers have reported severe shortages, underscoring the strain on Venezuela’s healthcare system.
International
María Corina Machado’s attempted return to Venezuela reportedly halted amid US political concerns
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly pressured Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado and disrupted her planned return to Venezuela following recent earthquakes, amid concerns over a potential political crisis, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Sources familiar with the matter told the newspaper that a private jet carrying Machado from the United States to Curaçao was ordered to turn back last week after U.S. officials concluded she intended to continue onward to Venezuelan territory, effectively reversing her earlier departure route from December.
The opposition figure had reportedly spent months preparing to re-enter Venezuela in an effort to renew pressure for new elections, following the detention of then-president Nicolás Maduro under an order issued by Trump. The U.S. president has since stated that Washington’s relationship with Venezuela’s acting leadership, headed by Delcy Rodríguez, is “excellent.”
According to The Wall Street Journal, intermediaries close to the White House warned Machado that proceeding with her return plan could jeopardize her support from Trump and undermine broader U.S. strategy toward Venezuela, potentially delaying electoral plans.
Despite these warnings, Machado reportedly attempted a second route back through Panama. However, Copa Airlines declined to transport her to Venezuela, citing concerns over possible retaliation from Caracas against the airline, according to unnamed sources.
From Panama City, Machado stated on Monday that the Venezuelan government had closed commercial airspace to prevent her return, calling it “urgent” to go back to the country to “face this catastrophe together,” without addressing reports of U.S. pressure.
Axios reported that Trump administration officials viewed Machado’s attempted return as “grotesque political opportunism” in the aftermath of recent earthquakes that have left at least 2,595 people dead and thousands injured, while also delaying reconstruction efforts and potential electoral processes.
Since Maduro’s detention on January 3, President Trump has reportedly expressed support for Rodríguez, the former vice president, who has agreed to trade, mining, and oil agreements demanded by Washington. Trump has described Venezuela as effectively operating under U.S. oversight and has claimed the country is improving economically through increased oil production and exports.
Venezuelan opposition groups based in the United States have urged the Trump administration to reconsider its relationship with Rodríguez and criticized Washington’s stated satisfaction with reconstruction efforts following the June 24 earthquakes.
International
Rush for Air Conditioners Sparks Tensions at French Supermarkets Ahead of New Heatwave
Scenes of long lines, overcrowded stores and customer disputes unfolded across France on Thursday as shoppers rushed to buy air conditioners and fans ahead of another expected heatwave.
The buying frenzy comes as the country continues to recover from last week’s extreme temperatures, which exceeded 40°C (104°F) in several areas and produced the warmest night on record, with an average temperature of 22°C (71.6°F). Authorities have linked the heatwave to at least 1,000 excess deaths.
Demand for cooling appliances has surged in recent days, prompting heavy traffic at appliance retailers. The situation intensified on Thursday when German discount supermarket chain Lidl launched a promotion on portable air conditioners and electric fans.
Videos shared on social media showed large crowds gathering outside stores, with customers pushing and rushing to secure the discounted products.
“Lidl France regrets the incidents that occurred in its stores,” the company told AFP, adding that employees were forced to manage tense situations in what it described as a challenging environment.
Outside a Lidl store in northwestern Paris, dozens of customers began lining up as early as 7:00 a.m., two hours before opening, while police monitored the crowd, according to an AFP journalist at the scene.
Although many shoppers remained in good spirits, tensions escalated as some people attempted to cut in line. “I will not open the store until they leave,” a store manager reportedly shouted as frustrated customers protested.
The situation worsened after customers discovered that the store, located in a working-class district of Paris, had only two air conditioning units available for sale.
One of the successful buyers, Lassana, who declined to provide his last name, said he had queued since 4:00 a.m. to secure one of the units.
Another customer, 69-year-old Fatou, was only able to purchase a small fan after what he described as a struggle. He criticized Lidl’s advertising as “misleading,” claiming police had temporarily closed access to the store because of the crowds.
Lidl France attributed the shortages to its fixed annual purchasing cycle, explaining that the promotional products had been ordered a year in advance and were offered at predetermined prices, limiting the available stock.
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