Iran runoff pits mayor, ex-president..
In what appeared to be a shock to the hopes of Iranian reformers, Iran's presidential election will go into a two-man second round, to be held on Friday, June 24.
The world of Iranian politics is often unclear and can surprise even seasoned observers. No where is this more evident than in the outcome of Friday's election, in which a nationally not well-known political figure came out of nowhere to take second place and a spot in the runoff.
It is one thing for people living in Tehran to know him and as a result to vote for him, but why would someone in Esfahan, Yazd, Shiraz or Mashaad have a particular affinity for the mayor of Tehran? Still I think it is quite curious.
Although, the populist platforms by particularly Mr. Ahmadinezhad and Mr. Karroubi, the third-place finisher - both of whom had promised regular stipends, or payments to Iranians - also resonated more than the reformists' messages of democracy. The main reform candidate, Moeen, came in fifth in the seven-man race. Anyway, as things stand today, I do not know and I cannot predict who will be Iran's next president!!?
I am going to vote for Mr Hashemi on Friday 24th of June. Although not a pure reformist, but he was the second option on my list anyway.
During last couple of days, I have been receiving emails from very old friends (say we haven't met in person for 15 years!), where they are asking the friends to vote for Hashemi in the run-off, so I expect the turnout to be at least the same as the first round and boycott won't work.
As you may know most of the reformist political parties as well as key characters like Moeen and Mr Khatami have asked (directly or indirectly) people to vote for Mr Hashemi.
The good thing is that Mr Hashemi needs reformer's vote and he has promised to lead the reforms movement in his own way. Whatever he does, I am sure it will be much better than having Tehran's mayor as the president ;)
(at June 22, 2005 06:44 AM)
AHMADINEJAD will be president. I am telling you now.time is 11:49 am of friday.GMT.
I am in London But I can feel it.
sorry guys
(at June 24, 2005 11:49 AM)
I am affraid I do agree with Ehsan and as it looks like it Ahmadinejad is the next one,bloody daft people.what the hell were you thinking of when you vote?
(at June 25, 2005 12:15 AM)
You made a mistake underneath Rafsanjani's caption...he is not an ayatollah he is a Hojjatoleslam
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