Larijani wins second term

TEHRAN, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani won his second tenure in office on Tuesday despite a conservative attempt to oust him from office.

The debate over the tenure of Larijani intensified as lawmakers lined up on both sides of the issues.

Conservatives, the so-called Principlist faction in the Iranian political realm, were said to have launched a plan to oust Larijani from his position as the leader of the Iranian Parliament.

Larijani took a moderate approach in the wake of the disputed presidential elections in June, though conservatives claim he was too soft on the opposition.

Larijani in the wake of the elections said there were emerging divisions among Principlists.

"I confirm that there are differences among Principlists, which are mostly differences of opinion," he said in August.

Mohammad Reza Bahonar, the first deputy speaker, came to the defense of Larijani, saying he is the leader best suited to head the Principlist majority, the Tehran Times reports.

"I believe that Larijani is still the best choice to head the faction," the deputy speaker said.

Morteza Aqa Tehrani, the cleric lawmaker who challenged Larijani, had complained Larijani could have focused on the Principlist agenda more during his first tenure, adding Parliament could have acted "much better."