Pragmatic conservatives

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The Broad Principalists Coalition (Persian: ائتلاف فراگیر اصولگرایان), also known as Pragmatic Conservatives, is an alliance of conservative politicians in Iran. The alliance was formed in the lead up to the Iranian legislative election of 2008 and consists of religiously conservative politicians opposed to President Ahmadinejad.

[edit] Beliefs

Iranian "Principalists", or conservatives, emphasize their loyalty to the system of Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists established by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. They split from the United Principalists Front in the run up to the Iranian legislative election of 2008 because they belived the pro-Ahmadinejad Sweet Scent of Service faction had been given too many top positions on the electoral lists. However, many candidates are endorsed by both the Broad Coalition and the United Principalists. They have also said that the Parliament of Iran should be more independent from the President of Iran.^[1]

[edit] Backers

The coalition is believed to be backed by Mayor of Tehran Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the former head of the Revolutionary Guards Mohsen Rezaie and the former nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.^[2]