Iran Election June 09

[Merlin]

This is a election to watch.

Iran president hopefuls register

5 May [BBC] Iranians hoping to stand as candidates in the presidential elections in June have begun signing up at the start of a five-day registration period.

Women putting their names forward will be considered this time, officials say. In previous elections, female candidates have all been disqualified.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has not yet formally declared his candidacy but is expected to stand.

Mr Ahmadinejad is facing mounting criticism especially over the economy.

The former prime minister, Mir Hossein Mousavi, who is considered the main challenger for Mr Ahmadinejad and the former parliament speaker, Mehdi Karroubi, have already announced their plan to stand.

President Ahmadinejad has been accused by reformists and conservatives alike of mishandling the economy and wasting Iran's windfall from high oil prices.

But the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says Mr Ahmadinejad is a skilled exponent at obtaining and holding onto power, while the opposition is demoralised and divided. ....

[Merlin]

Israel, the US and the West may be very concerned on this issue. But Tehran says it is not for them in the June election.

Nuclear talks not election issue in Iran

TEHRAN, May 5 (UPI) -- The June 12 presidential elections in Iran play no role in ongoing talks on its controversial nuclear program, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi denied allegations that Tehran was balking on nuclear talks with the 5-plus-1 group -- the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany -- until after the presidential elections in June, the Tehran Times reports.

"The election issue, as an internal matter, has nothing to do with macro issues," Qashqavi told reporters. "Macro issues are not affected by elections."

He went on to say that despite the outcome of the June contest, the foreign policy of Iran would remain relatively static, as top candidates have stressed Iran has the right to pursue nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. ....

[Zaphael]

Israel, the US and the West may be very concerned on this issue. But Tehran says it is not for them in the June election.

Nuclear talks not election issue in Iran

"The election issue, as an internal matter, has nothing to do with macro issues," Qashqavi told reporters. "Macro issues are not affected by elections."

He's probably half-right in that. Macro issues however do affect elections. The nuke issue may be part of Iranian attempts to create external tensions to divert attention away from its internal problems, particularly its poor economy. Given sufficient intensity of macro issues, particularly those that rally "Iranian Pride" or "Us vs Them" kind of sentiments, and the ruling regime may receive popular mandate for quite a while.

[Merlin]

The chief of Iran's TV monopoly yields to 'fairness' complaints and arrange TV debates by six presidential candidates. The election is on June 12. Campaigning starts on May 22.

Iran presidential debates to be televised

19 hrs ago TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran's state television is to air debates by candidates competing in the June presidential election, the broadcaster's chief Ezatollah Zarghami was quoted as saying by local media on Thursday.

"Six attractive televised debates are on the broadcaster's electoral agenda," Zarghami said, vowing "fairness" in coverage by his organisation which has a monopoly on broadcasting in Iran.

Such debates are not unprecedented in Iran, but Iranian politicians rarely take each other on face-to-face in public despite their differences.

Incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has faced mounting criticism in Iran mainly over his handling of the economy, has welcomed the plan.

Zarghami did not say when the debates would be broadcast but campaigning for the June 12 election begins on May 22 after a conservative electoral watchdog unveils the list of candidates allowed to stand.

Zarghami's comments follow complaints of bias by state television in favour of Ahmadinejad, who is seeking re-election. ....

Earlier this month about 100 Mousavi supporters staged a protest at what they called the "electoral campaign in favour of Ahmadinejad on TV and radio" outside the state broadcasting centre in Tehran. ....

State media gives comprehensive coverage of Ahmadinejad's tours around the country and to his speeches, leading to accusations that he was using them as election rallies even though formal campaigning has not yet begun.

[Optimus]

As a writer in Atimes pointed out, the lack of American interest in the Iranian election at White House level is quite surprising. They should use the opportunity to undermine Ahmadinejad's chances of re-election, or perhaps they don't want to publicize the fact that they do have a democratic election for their Presidency over there.

[Traxus]

As a writer in Atimes pointed out, the lack of American interest in the Iranian election at White House level is quite surprising. They should use the opportunity to undermine Ahmadinejad's chances of re-election, or perhaps they don't want to publicize the fact that they do have a democratic election for their Presidency over there.

The US has to be verrrry careful in how it treats Iranian elections. If the US were to tacitly back a candidate, that candidate would be in bad trouble. Any positive statement from the US would be regarded very negatively in Iran.

I also think you're right, it doesn't do well to point out that the mortal enemy of the US is in fact democratic, with occasionally fair elections.

[Merlin]

'Iran's presidential race is officially on'.

Iran election candidates approved

3 hrs ago [PressAssoc] Iran's presidential race is officially on after a constitutional watchdog approved four candidates, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The Interior Ministry said that the country's Guardian Council gave the green light to Ahmadinejad and three other contenders to run in the June 12 balloting.

The three include prominent reformists Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi, and a conservative, Mohsen Rezaei.

The body had rejected 471 other candidates who wanted to run, including ... 42 women.

Ahmadinejad faces a tough challenge. His popularity appears to be declining, and many blame him for the country's economic troubles.

[Tronic]

Its too bad Khatami stepped out of the race. Had he won, it would've been a very positive thing for Iran having a cool headed moderate run the country rather than the idiotic moron Ahmedinijad who alienates his country even more from the international scene every time he opens his big mouth. Wonder what Hossein Mousavi brings to the table, or if hes anything like Khatami.

[Merlin]

Its too bad Khatami stepped out of the race. Had he won, it would've been a very positive thing for Iran having a cool headed moderate run the country ... Wonder what Hossein Mousavi brings to the table, or if hes anything like Khatami.

I think Khatami withdrew beforehand and give public support to Mousavi.

But many expect the 67-year-old Musavi to be Ahmadinejad's main challenger. The former prime minister, who describes himself as a fundamentalist reformer, has been publicly backed by former President Mohammad Khatami.

"I consider Musavi a religious intellectual," Khatami recently told backers in an effort to encourage them to throw their support behind Musavi. "Musavi's dedication to morals is among his outstanding traits, as is his sympathy for people."

The above quote is taken from here. Four Candidates Approved To Run In Iran's Presidential Vote

[Optimus]

Looking at the election objectively who do you guys think will win?.
I personally felt Khatami was the only one capable of toppling the incumbent.

[Merlin]

I personally felt Khatami was the only one capable of toppling the incumbent.

Look at the earlier post. Katami has withdrawn himself from the race. He is not one of the four candidates.

[Optimus]

Look at the earlier post. Katami has withdrawn himself from the race. He is not one of the four candidates.

I did, that's why I used the past tense 'HAD'. IMO unless something dramatically alters the current situation, Ahmad.... will probably be returned.
and some commentators have suggested the population would probably rally around Ahmad......, If they feel that Iran is being unfairly picked upon.Perhaps thats why the West is being fairly quiet about the election.

[Optimus]

Its too bad Khatami stepped out of the race. Had he won, it would've been a very positive thing for Iran having a cool headed moderate run the country rather than the idiotic moron Ahmedinijad who alienates his country even more from the international scene every time he opens his big mouth. Wonder what Hossein Mousavi brings to the table, or if hes anything like Khatami.

What did Khatami do to blot his copybook?

[Tronic]

What did Khatami do to blot his copybook?

Don't understand what you mean by "blot".

If you mean what he did whilst in power, then all I can say is that the man gave it his best shot to change or liberalize Iranian laws and society, it is a different matter that the religious leaders blocked almost all his moves. Though, it would still be better for Iran to have him lead who actually tries to do better for the society rather than A-jad. Even if Iran wants to go nuclear, civil or weapons, Khatami won't actually change world opinion against his country the way A-jad does, with his constant aggressive rants against Israel and US, he basically asks for world intervention against Iran.

[Optimus]

Don't understand what you mean by "blot".

Sorry 'To Blot ones copybook' Basically means to do something which may ruin your record/ CV etc etc, thus falling out of favour with the powers that be., but explanation that a lot of his actions were blocked by the clerics could go somewhat towards explaining this.
Do you think that because of this, he was never going to be approved?