Friday, April 10, 2009

Presidential Election
Iran will hold a presidential election in a few months. In Iran, president is elected based on popular votes and, in a direct competition between different candidates.
Usually the candidates are categorized under Moderate or Conservative banner with a few so called independents running for fun as well.
This time there are two candidates that in some ways could be considered reform minded, against one conservative running president. However, there are two things, that are bothersome to me as somebody looking for some guy with some reformist agenda, who would potentially and hopefully move toward Iranian people rights and well being:
1-These guys, both Mousavi and Karoubi, stand very close to the border line between conservative and moderate camps. At some points during their past and even present they have talked and acted close to conservatives and from a fundamentalist point of view. Some people in favor of reforms might not even vote, feeling neither Mousavi nor Karoubi represent reform movement.
2-They will divide the vote against the reformists in favour of Ahmadi Nejad.
I hoped there would be more than one conservative/fundamentalist candidate as well, splitting Ahmadi Nejad's votes. He has done enough damage to Iran and Iranian people already, it is time for change.