Iran’s presidential race heats up

Fares Abdullah
For Al-Shorfa.com
2009-05-29

Former Iranian Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi

With just four candidates left out of the 475 who registered to stand in Iran’s June 12 presidential elections, sharper lines are emerging between the camps. Incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is competing for the radical vote with former head of the Republican Guard Mohsen Radhai. In the relatively moderate reformist camp are former Shura Council leader Mahdi Karoubi and former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi.

Observers agree, however, that the election is really a two-horse race between Ahmadinejad and Mousavi. Ahmadinejad has the support of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, who has publicly voiced his backing for the incumbent and asked Iranians not to vote for candidates who will “yield to the enemy”.

Radicals cling to Ahmadinejad, whose aggressive speeches match their hard-line aspirations. He is regularly quoted by conservatives exhorting Iranians to stand firm against international sanctions imposed on Tehran for its failure to comply with international resolutions, especially in relation to its nuclear programme.

The Iranian president’s failed economic policies, however, have earned him enemies within the radical bloc, which has exploited his failures to gain ground in the race for power. Most prominent among radical critics is Radhai, one of Ahmadinejad’s most vocal opponents, who has thus far been unable to convince the top religious authorities to refrain from endorsing the incumbent president.

In the more moderate camp, Mousavi is the strongest of the reform candidates hoping to return to government. His campaign has gained ground since the decision of former President Mohamed Khatemi to withdraw from the election in his favour. Mousavi has promised to change Iran’s radical image by opening relations with the outside world and engaging in dialogue.

Karoubi has also spoken of reviving relations with the outside world in a bid to mitigate the sanctions that burden the Iranian economy. He has stated that one of his first priorities will be to attract foreign investment and to secure funding, technology and expertise from abroad.

The two leading candidates’ campaigns, which run until June 11, are intensifying. Ahmadinejad has been touring the provinces and making incendiary statements, sparking exchanges with the other candidates. He has also sought to exploit national patriotic sentiment with news of the test of the Sajjil-2 missile, hoping to convince voters that he is building a strong country capable of defending itself.

For his part, Mousavi has been challenging his rival at the polls with speeches on the economy and his plans to liberalise the country. He has promised the Iranian people that he will reduce the soaring inflation and exploit the rich oil sector to create jobs, support industry and boost Iran’s gross domestic product.

Source: Agence France-Presse

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