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Mehrangiz Kar - 2009.05.07
Roozonline
There is an unusual level of energy in Iran these days because of the June 12, 2009 presidential elections. But why? Have elections become free? Is there an extraordinary candidate? If none of these then where is this energy coming from?
The current presidential candidates are the same figures who have been in the political field of Iran during the last thirty years, during the war, peace, etc. But the current election atmosphere today is different from that of the last thirty years. The very same candidates are saying new things. Still, the words do not match the status of the candidates and the conditions under which they operate. But the novelty of the messages that the candidates broadcast create zeal and enthusiasm, even though there is no hope of their actual fulfillment. Economic reports that are published by professionals these days speak of violations by the present administration whose chief is planning to run for the office again.
Never in the past did presidential candidates speak so explicitly and never did they point out the shortcomings of their rivals. Talking about the causes and consequences of the murder of intellectuals victimized by the intelligence machinery of Iran (such as Saeed Sirjani) has precedence in election campaigning. Never did a candidate insist on the possibility of election fraud and speak of a committee to safeguard people’s vote. The state-run national radio and television network never worried about putting itself at the exclusive service of one candidate. Never in the past did this government institution experience the presence of protestors around its headquarters demanding accountability protesting the use of public funds for a single specific presidential candidate. But this is exactly what happened last week.
So we are witness to these and much more freshness in the campaigns, without ever expecting them. Women and students view these elections and engage them in a different light as well. Women insist on their rights, students analyze and critique them from every possible perspective. In another unexpected event, a group of conservative hardliners (in Iran known as Principalists who support the current President and administration) changed their loyalty and declared their support for Mir-Hossein Mousavi who has no affiliations with the Principalists.
Watching and hearing all that is happening, one cannot remain silent to what is going on, even if we are hopeless and negative.
With these events, it is now even more difficult to make any predictions about the outcome of the elections. The intense conflicts inside the administration cannot be easily controlled or managed. At the same time one cannot simply hope that the internal power struggle would come to its end peacefully and that the race would end and the contenders would graciously accept the outcome of the race and shake a hand of friendship, like they do in Western democracies. One cannot rule out violence and unrest.
When the political system lacks the channels to direct election energy and enthusiasm towards democratic ends, and in the absence of independent political parties, when there is no independent national television network, or free media and free elections, whichever candidate loses the presidential race will, along with his supporters and allies, do anything possible to hurt the competitors. But even with this picture there is hope. Perhaps contrary to the concerns, democracy, which had been driven “out the door” as conservatists claim, will actually reenter through the window and impost itself on its foes.
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