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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran's presidential election |
| 2005-05-18 |
| Iran is less than a month away from its June 17 presidential election. By the time the deadline for registration had expired Saturday, a new record of 1,010 hopefuls -- among them 89 women who are eligible to contest elections under Iranian law -- had signed up. Like the 2001 campaign, when some 814 aspirants registered, candidates this time come from all walks of life. They include the homeless, security guards, actors, soccer players, homemakers, office workers, as well as no-hopers like a Saddam Hussein look-alike who wants to be a movie star and a man who dresses like al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. From this mélange -- ranging in age from a 16-year-old boy to an 84-year-old man -- there are only 20 names that should be regarded as serious candidates. Analysts, and some officials, blame the registration of so many bizarre and nonpolitical individuals on the absence of an organized and "party politics" system in Iran, as well as the country's electoral laws. Based on Article 115 of the Iranian constitution, "The president must be elected from among religious and political dignitaries (or Rejal, meaning distinguished men in Arabic) possessing the following qualifications: Iranian origin and nationality; administrative capacity and resourcefulness; a good track-record; trustworthiness and piety; and convinced belief in the fundamental principles of the Islamic republic of Iran and the official religion of the country (Shiism)." All candidates, however, have to be vetted by the conservative-controlled Guardian Council, a powerful clerical body that, besides vetoing legislation it deems unconstitutional or un-Islamic, has the power to screen all candidates for public office. In the February 2004 parliament elections, the council disqualified more than 2,000 reformists and political moderates from standing, causing several weeks of political tensions. Condemning election vetting, more than 500 intellectuals and politicians, including former members of parliament, announced recently they would boycott the upcoming presidential elections. In a statement, they said the June 17 election cannot be free and fair because the Guardian Council was depriving people of free choice. The council has already said the 89 women candidates will be disqualified. But correspondents say the council may be more cautious this time, fearing a low turnout could damage its legitimacy. As the campaign gets into full swing, the presidential hopefuls are fine-tuning their messages and slogans that are sometimes as varied as their personal details. Among the frontrunners is former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani who occupied the post twice from 1989 to 1997. More socially conservative than the reformists, Rafsanjani, 70, who is head of the arbitrative State Expediency Council, is seen as a pragmatic conservative who is open to better ties with the West. He talks about "economic democracy" as one of his main slogans, describing economic growth and freedom as prerequisites for social and political democracy. In a message faxed to the print media last week, Rafsanjani called his intention to run for president as "one of the most difficult decisions" he had to make in his entire political life. He referred to increasing political tensions and sensitive international conditions as the two main reasons behind his decision. Elsewhere, Mostafa Moin, former minister of Higher Education and the leading reformist candidate, called the election a "new chapter in the democratic process in Iran." Former parliamentary Speaker Mehdi Karroubi promised "practical steps to implement democracy." Others have rejected this position. Tehran Mayor Mahmood Ahmadinejad, who is running from the ultra-hardline faction, says, "We did not have a revolution in order to have democracy." Several political dissidents, among them one based in the United States, have also registered. Other aspirants belonging to the conservative camp include former police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, former Revolutionary Guards head Mohsen Rezaei, and former TV and radio chief Ali Larijani. On the female list, dissident Aazam Taleqani and former MP Rafat Bayat are among the known figures. Having lost control of the parliament in 2004, reformists loyal to the incumbent President Mohammad Khatami tried for months to secure the executive power by unsuccessful trying to persuade popular former Prime Minister Mir Hussein Mousavi, who served from 1981 to 1989, to stand. Observers believe the failure may provide hardliners and conservatives yet another chance of winning by default. Khatami is barred by the constitution from seeking a third term. Despite opinion polls, elections in Iran have never been predictable, the observers say. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |