Rivals in Iran both claim victory in election

[Space Wolves]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090612/..._iran_election


WHO WON!?

lol

[Aldgarkalaughskel]

Elections were held in Iran recently, and this is the end result...

Iran rivals both declare victory

The two main candidates in Iran's presidential election have claimed victory, after extended voting as huge numbers of people turned out to vote.

Reformist challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi told a news conference that he had won by a substantial margin.
However, state media said incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won, and electoral officials said partial results put him ahead on 69%.
But Mr Mousavi has complained of some voting irregularities.
He said there had been a shortage of ballot papers and millions of people had been denied the right to vote.
His election monitors were not allowed enough access to polling stations, he added, saying he would deal seriously with any fraud.
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says that, with the count barely having begun, this could be a case of the two candidates just sending a warning.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8098305.stm

[Slaxx Hatmen]

*yawn* Wake me up when the Ayatollah croaks.

[Francebunkerer]

*yawn* Wake me up when the Ayatollah croaks.

Exactly. Yay autocracy of a silly old chap.

[The Dude]

Ahmadinejad will win. What the ayatollah wants, goes. This election is a hoax.

[Jagdpanzer]

Ahmadinejad will win. What the ayatollah wants, goes. This election is a hoax.

Kinda funny because Ahmadinejad doesn't seem to be thinking that's he's got the support of the ayatollahs. I saw a fragment on dutch tv where he accused an opponent, i think it was Mousavi, of being a puppet of Ayatollah Khamenei who according to him wanted to get rid of him.

[Kamos]

I expect a civil war if this isn't resolved properly.

[bigfootedfred]

it said only a partial vote had been counted, so seems to just be very close.

on the subject

[Heathen Hammer]

Ahmadinejad is very popular in Iran, so I guess he'll win.

[Farnan]

Ahmadinejad is very unpopular in Iran, but the Mullahs don't like the reformers so I guess he'll win.

Fixed it for you. You know the Guardian Council can declare any ballot box ineligible at will? They control the election.

[Heathen Hammer]

Fixed it for you. You know the Guardian Council can declare any ballot box ineligible at will? They control the election.

Along with that too. But what makes you think he is unpopular in Iran?

[Farnan]

Along with that too. But what makes you think he is unpopular in Iran?

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/c...?story_id=3904

One of many articles.

[LSJ]

Most of the early votes are also from the rural areas, where Ahmadinejad has most of his support. So its quite possible that Mousavi's urban voters can give him a big boost.

But I worry that even with more popularity, Mousavi will lose because the Iranian government is known for screwing with elections. The council blocks most reformist candidates, while Ahmadinejad spouts propaganda and lies to attack the one that remains. The situation is in his favour, despite being less popular over all.

[Babur]

Along with that too. But what makes you think he is unpopular in Iran?

The Iranians on TWC who live in Iran seem to despise him.....

Russia's traditional ties to Iran involve grabbing land mainly :



prior to this during the collapse of the Safavi empire (1722-1736) ,Russia occupied Iranian settlements near the Caspian sea.

[ivan_the_terrible]

Russia's traditional ties to Iran involve grabbing land mainly :

prior to this during the collapse of the Safavi empire (1722-1736) ,Russia occupied Iranian settlements near the Caspian sea.

I'n dying to see how you're going to try to make this relevant to the OP...

[motiv-8]

Along with that too. But what makes you think he is unpopular in Iran?

Because he didn't deliver on any of his campaign promises from 2005, and the people know it.

What leaves me dismayed is the ridiculous level of enthusiasm displayed by people in countries like Iran (or the recently polled Lebanon) compared with those historical bastions of democracy like the US... Their voter turnout puts ours to shame, and they don't even get a fair process to participate in. THEY should be the ones entitled to open and free elections, and these masses of ignorant and apathetic Americans given whoever, and like it.

[Barry Goldwater]

Call me when Iran has another revolution, this one seems to be a joke.

[Phier]

Because he didn't deliver on any of his campaign promises from 2005, and the people know it.

What leaves me dismayed is the ridiculous level of enthusiasm displayed by people in countries like Iran (or the recently polled Lebanon) compared with those historical bastions of democracy like the US... Their voter turnout puts ours to shame, and they don't even get a fair process to participate in. THEY should be the ones entitled to open and free elections, and these masses of ignorant and empathetic Americans given whoever, and like it.

Some day someone will let me know why voter turn out is somehow important.

[Caduet]

What leaves me dismayed is the ridiculous level of enthusiasm displayed by people in countries like Iran (or the recently polled Lebanon) compared with those historical bastions of democracy like the US... Their voter turnout puts ours to shame, and they don't even get a fair process to participate in. THEY should be the ones entitled to open and free elections, and these masses of ignorant and empathetic Americans given whoever, and like it.

Thats because the novelty of democracy has yet to wear off in the ME. Also, since they have less than perfect (at least in some opinions) forms of democracy, they still feels they have something to achieve with voting. In America, politics in general are only good for finding a reason to dislike somebody. We don't really have anything noticeable to gain.

[Alkarin]

Along with that too. But what makes you think he is unpopular in Iran?

maybe the mass riots?