A pro-government politician said he believes the next parliament, which is to convene later this month, will have two major factions.
Hossein Marashi, spokesman for the pro-government Executives of Construction Party, said in an interview with IRNA on Monday that the two dominant blocs will belong to principlists and the reformist-government backer alliance. The spokesman said that by now, no group has an absolute majority and independents will decide their final clout.
"Whether a faction will be in the majority or minority depends on [their efforts to gain support of] independent forces," he said.
With less than three weeks left to the opening ceremony of the next assembly on May 28, the two major rival groups are lobbying to attract more lawmakers. The election winners of the two groups have held separate meetings on Saturday to pave the way for the formation of their parliamentary factions, in which some independent figures also participated.
Backing Compromise on Majlis Chairmanship
Asked whether reformist Mohammad Reza Aref, the top election winner in the capital Tehran, or sitting Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, will assume the leadership of the new Majlis, Marashi said it is to be determined by their competition, but suggested there is another scenario that can be considered by the two figures, which his party strongly supports.
"Larijani and Aref can reach agreement [on the post], before their rivalry begins," he said.
Marashi did not explain what kind of agreement he meant, but media speculations are rife about a plan that envisages Larijani will have the seat in the first two years of the parliament and Aref will take over in the next two years.
However, Aref has said he has not made any contact with Larijani about chairing the parliament.
In an interview with ISNA on Sunday, Aref said that when the factions took shape, the dominant one would decide who will be the next speaker.
"We hope the statutes of the factions will be finalized by next week and the presiding boards will be formed to let consultations begin on the chairmanship of the Majlis and the post of speaker," he said.
The two rounds of the vote for the 290-member house were held on February 26 and April 29.
Results showed that both sides had failed to gain the outright majority in parliament. According to ISNA, 120 winners were included in the List of Hope, including reformists and government allies, while 83 seats belong to principlists and independents won the rest.
