The wind seems to have truly changed. The April elections call for a season of increased openness even for its civil society. Iran is an “island of stability” in the Middle East, and President Hassan Rouhani’s party stands for “moderation and hope”. These are just two of the slogans from an electoral campaign that has brought a level of success to Iranian technocrats and reform advocates that has been unparalleled since the victories of ex-President Mohammed Khatami in the 1990s.
In the days preceding the elections of 26 February, the streets of Tehran lacked the enthusiasm of the June 2013 presidential vote that put an end to the controversial chapter of the hard-line presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Even websites close to the moderate camp, such as Kaleme, were serene in their approach to the election of the Iranian Majlis, the parliament, which were notable for the mass exclusion of hundreds of candidates. Of the more than 12,000 politicians registered, only 6,200 were eventually accepted by the Guardian Council.
Among those excluded, 1,500 were only readmitted due to pressure applied to the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by Rouhani and former President Hashemi Rafsanjani. And 1,400 nevertheless withdrew at the last minute. As usual, the electoral campaign lasted only a few days. The eve of elections has always been distinguished by an unusual moment of political liberty in the Islamic Republic and, for this reason, the space and time allotted to it is kept to a minimum. But long queues at the polling stations and the good cheer that accompanied them brought hope to Hassan Rouhani’s technocrats. Outside the polling stations, some electors sang the praises of former President Muhammad Khatami, who is subject to a media ban. The reformist leader had spread a video message around social networks, inviting his supporters to vote. Messages were also circulated from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his foreign affairs adviser, Ali Akbar Velayati, encouraging Iranians to exercise their democratic prerogative.
If you want to read it all, purchase the entire issue in pdf for just three euro
The wind seems to have truly changed. The April elections call for a season of increased openness even for its civil society. Iran is an “island of stability” in the Middle East, and President Hassan Rouhani’s party stands for “moderation and hope”. These are just two of the slogans from an electoral campaign that has brought a level of success to Iranian technocrats and reform advocates that has been unparalleled since the victories of ex-President Mohammed Khatami in the 1990s.
In the days preceding the elections of 26 February, the streets of Tehran lacked the enthusiasm of the June 2013 presidential vote that put an end to the controversial chapter of the hard-line presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Even websites close to the moderate camp, such as Kaleme, were serene in their approach to the election of the Iranian Majlis, the parliament, which were notable for the mass exclusion of hundreds of candidates. Of the more than 12,000 politicians registered, only 6,200 were eventually accepted by the Guardian Council.
