Iranian Parliamentary Elections

[Armenum]

Today is the Iranian Parliamentary elections, where an interesting division has been created between the Ayatollah and Ahamadinejad. More a division between conservative and more religious conservative factions. The Green Movement called on its followers to boycott the election.

Iranians headed to more than 47,000 polling stations on Friday for the first parliamentary elections since the disputed 2009 Presidential vote.

Commentators said the contest became a race between the followers of conservative hardliners Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Two key opposition leaders remained under house arrest and scores of candidates from the Green Movement were barred from taking part.

A website supportive of the Green Movement called on Iranians to boycott the vote, asking them to show solidarity with those prevented from participating.

“In my opinion, the turnout will be considerably lower than previous elections,” said Ardeshir Amir Arjomand, an adviser to Mir Hossein Mousavi, one of the main 2009 presidential challengers who’s under house arrest. “However, officials have decided that this vote will be a successful one.
So I think we can expect the official turnout figures to be higher than in previous elections.”

http://www.euronews.net/2012/03/02/p...amentary-vote/

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks after casting his vote for the 9th parliamentary elections at a polling station in Tehran on Friday.

The Leader emphasized that voting is a duty to be fulfilled and a right of all the Iranian people.

Ayatollah Khamenei added that elections have always been significant and played a determining role for the country and the Islamic establishment, and have always conveyed a message to foes and friends.

The Leader stated that the arrogant powers are spreading propaganda and threats against the Islamic Republic to deny their failures.

They resort to impose sanctions and raise human rights issues against Iran, the Leader added.

However, the vigorous participation of the Iranian nation in the elections will send a message to hegemonic powers and will be beneficial for the country’s future, said Ayatollah Khamenei.

The 9th Majlis elections since the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution officially started across Iran at 08:00 a.m. local time (0430 GMT) on Friday.

Iran's Guardian Council, charged with supervising the elections, approved the competence of 3,454 candidates.

On February 21, Iran’s Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said that 48,288,799 people are eligible to cast their ballots in the Majlis vote.

Over 5,400 had registered to contest the 290 parliamentary seats. More than 47,000 polling stations will operate nationwide during the elections.

SF/AZ/GHN

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/229539.html

[Blaze86420]

Boycotting the election? What's that going to accomplish? They could try another protest.

[Babur]

Boycotting the election? What's that going to accomplish? They could try another protest.

another protest would only lead to more arrests and executions

[hellheaven1987]

This election actually shows that Iranian politic is not as simple and unified as we thought normally. The divisions between Ayatollah and Ahamadinejad, which each represents the interest of two different social classes, may indicate that there may have some interesting political change in Iran in future.

[Babur]

This election actually shows that Iranian politic is not as simple and unified as we thought normally. The divisions between Ayatollah and Ahamadinejad, which each represents the interest of two different social classes, may indicate that there may have some interesting political change in Iran in future.

Khamenei doesn't want Ahmadinejad's supporters to make gains in these elections

[hellheaven1987]

Khamenei doesn't want Ahmadinejad's supporters to make gains in these elections

Ya, but Ahmadinejad has the support of Revolution Guards and lower class, which means Khamenei does not have the support of those two major classes in Iran. In that case, the next question would be what Khamenei relies on to support his power and how long he can hold that before lower and military class overran his support.

[mrmouth]

This election actually shows that Iranian politic is not as simple and unified as we thought normally.

We might only think that because we simply don't have great insight into this. The demonstrations and resulting violence against their own people, opened up some cracks that we don't normally see. And certainly exacerbated prior points of contention.

And then there is the nuclear issue. Nobody knows which side falls where. It was the Ayatollah who has both appeared to be the catalyst and the voice of reason when he halted the program early last decade. At the same time, Ahamadinejad probably isn't as crazy as what he says. Clearly there is a power struggle on multiple levels. And it would likely be something to worry over more if we had better access to what is going on. There are groups within Iran that cannot be controlled.

[Sir Pignans]

Today is the Iranian Parliamentary elections, where an interesting division has been created between the Ayatollah and Ahamadinejad. More a division between conservative and more religious conservative factions. The Green Movement called on its followers to boycott the election.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17229164

A spokesperson for the Guardian Council, which vets and approves parliamentary candidates, told Iran's state-run Arabic-language TV channel, al-Alam, that turnout in the first three hours had exceeded that achieved in previous elections.

Seems that they ignored the Green party's wishes.

[Fluttershy]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17229164



Seems that they ignored the Green party's wishes.

not saying its true or untrue but look who the source was, I'm fairly certain he was going to say it was an amazing turnout no matter what

[motiv-8]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17229164



Seems that they ignored the Green party's wishes.

Or, more likely, the Guardian Council made up the numbers entirely.

[Condottiere 40K]

No write in candidates?

[spanish_emperor]

can someone give me more insight into the conflict between the Ayatollah and Ahmadinejad?

[Savoyard]

can someone give me more insight into the conflict between the Ayatollah and Ahmadinejad?

The handling of the protests (Leaked cables suggest that there was some responsibility for brutality) last year, along with other upper personnel issues, has left some stains on those in leadership.

[spanish_emperor]

The handling of the protests (Leaked cables suggest that there was some responsibility for brutality) last year, along with other upper personnel issues, has left some stains on those in leadership.

yeah, i forgot the ayatollah is all for equality and fairness. No really, what's the real reason?

[Armenum]

can someone give me more insight into the conflict between the Ayatollah and Ahmadinejad?

Basically, Ayatollah wants a more emphasis on Islamic themes and ideals by Ahmadinejad, who has emphasised Persian nationalism more than Ayatollah would want. Ayatollah also took issue with Ahmadinejad's close associate, I forgot his name. Also there are just ordinary political scuffles regarding appointments and other such political drama.

[Phier]

I find it sort of symbolic that their voting box looks a lot like the container I use for medical waste.

[Armenum]

I find it sort of symbolic that their voting box looks a lot like the container I use for medical waste.

Type of box is used in many elections throughout the world.

[Phier]

Type of box is used in many elections throughout the world.

Two key opposition leaders remained under house arrest and scores of candidates from the Green Movement were barred from taking part.

As I said, symbolic.

[Armenum]

As I said, symbolic.

Well I guess to you it's symbolic.

[John ''True Grit'' Wayne]

So they can pick either one mad man or another who are both going to run things exactly the same untill a war.
Not much of a choice then.