The first parliamentary election in Iran after controversial presidential election in 2009 was held reportedly in peaceful environment and nothing went wrong. The turnout was around 65 percent as previously estimated by conservative wing in the country. The level of participation in comparison to rest of the countries was good--- as in some most democratic countries turnout does not go above sixty percent while 64 percent of Iranians took part. But the level of participation does not stand at convenient position if compared with the high level of participation records in the history of Islamic Republic.

The clerical regime has tried much to motivate people to take part and choose their favorite candidates. Supreme leader, ayatollah Ali Khamenei had called for a high turnout to send a message of defiance to "the arrogant powers bullying us." He still has deep and broad influence over the society. Recently, there were reports about sharp differences between him and president Ahmadinejad. He has been the main supporter of Mr. President and strongly stood behind him in 2009 presidential election.

Experts maintain that without the support of supreme leader, president Ahmadinejad might never come to power, and Saturday's parliamentary election showed how his discrepancy has marginalized the president. According to reports, his sister Parvin Ahmadinejad failed to find way into parliament in her home town. According to initial result, the supporters of supreme leader have done quite well at all constituencies.

However, elections in the country have been always controversial and questionable. Reformists have been claiming that in a free and fair, they the ones wining both presidential and parliamentary elections.

But this parliamentary election was far more important. It was the first election after controversial presidential election led to months-long street protests against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In this election, as always, reformists did have to maneuver and show their presence in the country. Both potential opposition leaders, Mosavi and Mehdi Karobi are under house arrest. And their supporters largely kept quite and did not nominate themselves. Those who nominated also some of them were disqualified by an unelected Guardian Council.

Without the presence of reformists on the scene, why the turnout was that high? The only thing which can be the reason is to say that conservatives are still highly influential in the country and supreme leader can gather people in support of theocratic regime.