Asia-Pacific
IRAN
Reformists’ Advance
For the first time in 21 years, the political terrain in Iran has undergone radical restructuring—this time with ballots rather than bullets. Voters turned out in record numbers to take part in the Feb. 18 parliamentary elections.
As the reformist Asr-e-Azadegan confirmed (Feb. 19), “The reformists have conquered parliament!” New leaders, such as Mohammad Reza Khatami, President Mohammad Khatami’s brother, have risen to successfully challenge the old guard, such as former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.
“The main reason that Rafsanjani was unsuccessful in the election is because people were unhappy with his two terms as president (1989-1997),” says Asr-e-Azadegan (Feb. 20). “If people were given the chance to air their concerns during his presidency, his party would not be getting pushed out. Unfortunately, the people weren’t given a voice, and the current results reflect that frustration. Rafsanjani and his political colleagues should be happy with the outcome of the election because the situation could have come to a boiling point in the future.”
Perhaps more important, the reformist victory opens an opportunity for the Khatami government to work productively. As the conservative Kayhan points out in a conciliatory editorial (Feb. 20), “It is now the turn of the reformists to answer the call of the Iranian public. The past excuse that factions of government and the parliament couldn’t see eye to eye is no longer valid. All members of government must take advantage of this opportunity by working together to address the gripping problems faced by the populace.”
The democratic movement in Iran has certainly received a kick start, but some commentators counsel against complacency. The centrist Iran (Feb. 21) advises, “Those who are wearing a victorious smile today should take a step back and realize that they will not always go unopposed. Every little mistake made today, which might seem insignificant in light of the current victory, will build up into a huge, destructive wave if left unattended.”
This is a reasonable warning to reformists, since Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, controls the military, judiciary, and intelligence services.
