Reformists hold fewer than 20 seats in the outgoing parliament and have been politically weak since losing their majority in 2004.

The decree measure, as well as other laws being hastily passed by the outgoing parliament, amounted to totalitarianism, he said.

Each new parliament convenes for the first time within 20 days of the election, but not before the end of term for the outgoing parliament.

If correct, that would be around the size of the reformist presence in the outgoing parliament.

One third of them were members of the outgoing parliament it had previously approved.