Islamic Republic of Iran
Broadcasting (IRIB), state radio and TV organization, said today its latest and
most extensive national public opinion poll shows former president Ayatollah
Hashemi Rafsanjani is most popular among all actual and presumptive candidates
for president in the upcoming June election.
Another former president, Ayatollah Khatami, finishes a close second in
the poll, and Tehran’s mayor, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, finishes a distant
third, followed by former foreign minister Ali Akbar Valayati. (IRIB, 22 April)
Rafsanjani represents the
moderates within the current political system, the proponents of ‘reform from
above,’ preferring a council of supreme leadership instead of a supreme leader,
and massive economic reforms to limit the role of government in favor of
private enterprise.
Khatami represents the
reformists calling for a more open society and serious political, judicial reforms and press freedom. Qalibaf and Velayati represent traditional conservatives close
to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.
Rafsanjani and Khatami have yet declared their candidacies.
Rafsanjani and Khatami have yet declared their candidacies.
Aside from the three
factions mentioned, there are also supporters of president Ahmadinejad as well
as the extreme right grouping lead by Ayatollahs Mesbah Yazdi and Sadeq Larijani. The president and neither of the two
ayatollahs will be on the ballot, however. Ahmadinejad supporters prefer Mashaie
to be their candidate, but are fearful that the Guardian Council might block
his candidacy. The extreme right will
also choose a candidate among a short list of politicians to run for president.
File photo: Ayatollah Ali
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, right, with Supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei
(Leader.ir/ISNA).
Anybody that believes a word from this charlatan Rafsanjani or the rest of them must suffer from total amnesia or is an complete idiot.
ReplyDeleteThis is just another game from the regime to trick the gullible with their clowns like Mashie aka Mr Bean look alike and the rest of their supposed "candidates".
Yek regime farib kar.
Another poll lacking a published, scientifically derived methodology.
ReplyDeleteHere is a list of the candidates so far:
Conservatives:
Manouchehr Mottaki, Minister of Foreign Affairs (2005–2010)
Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Minister of Interior (2005–2008)
Mohsen Rezaee, Secretary of Expediency Discernment Council (since 1997)
Ruhollah Ahmadzadeh, Head of Cultural Heritage Organization (2011-2012)
Mohammad-Hassan Aboutorabi Fard, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament (2010–2011)
Yahya Ale Eshaq, Minister of Commerce (1993–1997)
Mohammad-Reza Bahonar, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament (since 2011)
Ali Fallahian, Minister of Intelligence (1989–1997)
Kamran Bagheri Lankarani, Minister of Health (2005–2009)
Alireza Zakani, Member of the Parliament (since 2004)
Reformists:
Mohammad-Reza Aref, First Vice President (2001–2005)
Mostafa Kavakebian, Member of the Parliament (2004–2012)
Mohammad Shariatmadari, Minister of Commerce (1997–2005)
Hossein Kamali, Minister of Labor (1988-1997)
Hassan Rouhani, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (1989–2005)
Independents:
Hooshang Amirahmadi, Academic and political analyst
Mohammed Bagher Kharrazi, Leader of Hezbollah of Iran (since 1990)
Mohammad Saeedikia, Minister of Housing and Urban Development (2005–2009)
Hassan Sobhani, Member of the Parliament (1996–2008)
Note the number of reformists has increased, as well as independents. Like 2005, this will be an interesting election that will be difficult to predict.
Of course, this is a fraud being perpetrated by the above-mentioned blogger. There are no "conservatives", "reformists" and least of all "independents" in the IRI's so-called elections. Rather, there are different factions of the Khomeinist line (aka "Khatt-e Emam"). All non-Khomeinist political groupings have been executed, imprisoned or intimidated into silence by the Islamist terrorist regime. Furthermore, the most powerful political office in the land can NOT be popularly elected and can only be a Shia male cleric, who is for all intents and purposes the Leader for Life. BTW, any women "presidential" candidates? Even a single one?
DeleteCould not trust the election results 4 years ago, why believe the polls today?
ReplyDeleteAnon 2:25PM
DeleteAs of recently Mr. Aref (presidential candidate?), stated that there was no fraud in the 2009 election.
A-F
It is always good to link to your reference.
ReplyDeleteAhmadinejad having fun
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Hq-054huY
I would seriously doubt a Rafsanjani or Khatami comeback. Both are relics from the past and a new generation of Iranian leaders has come to the fore. It will be an interesting election with a very high voter turnout. Iranian democracy has matured.
ReplyDeleteGood try but not good enough I'm afraid.
DeleteOh yeah, velayet-e faqih is a democratic system. Sure it is!
ReplyDeleteDon't take Anon 2:48 too seriously because he is only a West residing IRI Groupie doing his duty in perpetuating the constant drivel on behalf of his paymasters :o)
DeleteJust shows the resilience of Iranian democracy and its pluralistic nature, unlike the US police state.
DeleteCorrection: the US fascist Zionist police state, which does not have the freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly that the system of velayet-e faqih allows.
DeleteAnon 7:10 AM...You're neither a good comedian nor a good liar.Perhaps you should stick to your rigorous medication.
DeleteIn which case, may I please borrow some of your Haldol?
DeleteAyatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei has launched several pages on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, with daily updates advertising Iran's scientific achievements, political developments, social and foreign policy issues. Iranian leadership is increasingly in touch with Iran's net savvy public and is developing a mass following. Iranian population is also politically engaged and the leadership has found the social media as a popular avenue to connect with Iran's educated youth. There is vibrant dynamism in Iran's political scene as the Presidential elections approach on June 14, 2013.
ReplyDeleteA system led by a cleric who is the Leader-for-Life. If that's not "vibrant dynamism", I don't know what is.
ReplyDeleteZionist installed Congress and a brainwashing media backed up by GITMO and 24/7 Islamophobia is above par though.
Delete"Islamophobia" is a meaningless term coined by Islamist terrorists and their Fellow Travelers.
DeletePot calling the kettle black.You calling others "Zionist" doesn't make you look credible in other peoples opinion.
DeleteActually Islamophobia is a UN accepted term for the US and its Zionist masters pushing their insidious agenda of demonizing 2 Billion plus Muslims for all omissions and commissions. The fact is that now the US rednecks who already have a low IQ and are ignorant will be peddling more hate and no amount of arse-kissing the rednecks is going to make you immune from US racism and Islamophobia if you look "middle-eastern". Heck, even the poor Sikhs are regularly targeted in the United Snakes.LOL.
DeleteThe simple FACT is that Zionism has destroyed the US as the Jewish project of Communism destroyed Russia. All the leaders of Communism were Jews.
Now watch FOX/CNN peddle more paranoia and hate to turn the US into a fascist police state par excellence.
Would you mind if I copy-and-paste your comment and submit it to Psychiatry Departments throughout the world as a case study of schizophrenia and related delusional syndromes?
DeleteZionism is a sickness that can only be cured by surgical removal like lobotomy.
Delete