Elections in Iran lead to completely pre-determined and fully orchestrated results in line with the ideology and currently expedient goals of the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and his hard-line, extreme-conservative theocrats. The Parliament, the President and any other elected officers are mere figureheads and puppets in positions created merely to placate the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people.
All important decisions are taken by the Supreme Leader, and, according to Wikipedia, his role involves the following:
- Delineation of the general policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran after consultation with the Nation’s Expediency Discernment Council.
- Supervision over the proper execution of the general policies of the systems.
- Issuing decrees for national referendums.
- Assuming supreme command of the armed forces.
- Declaration of war and peace, and the mobilization of the armed forces.
- Appointment, dismissal, and acceptance of resignation of:
- the members of the Guardian Council.
- the supreme judicial authority of the country.
- the head of the radio and television network of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
- the chief of the joint staff.
- the chief commander of the armed forces of the country
- the supreme commanders of the armed forces.
- Resolving differences between the three wings of the armed forces and regulation of their relations.
- Resolving the problems, which cannot be solved by conventional methods, through the Nation’s Expediency Council.
- Signing the decree formalizing the elections in Iran for the President of the Republic by the people.
- Dismissal of the President of the Republic, with due regard for the interests of the country, after the Supreme Court holds him guilty of the violation of his constitutional duties, or after a vote of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament) testifying to his incompetence on the basis of Article 89 of the Constitution.
- Pardoning or reducing the sentences of convicts, within the framework of Islamic criteria, on a recommendation (to that effect) from the head of the Judiciary. The Leader may delegate part of his duties and powers to another person.
Whereas, the President does the following:
…he is independent in his decisions and developing the policies of the government… [President] Khatami changed many of the policies of the regime without the assistance of the Supreme Leader, who often announced his indifference to the changes.
The President nominates the members of government to the Majlis (parliament). He has the power to dismiss any of the government members. The president appoints the secretary of national security council as well as the governors of the provinces and ambassadors of the Islamic Republic to other countries…
The President formulates the foreign policy through the National Security Council and after seeking Supreme Leader’s approval.
And the Parliament, a consultative body:
The Majlis can force the dismissal of cabinet ministers by no-confidence votes and can impeach the president for misconduct in office. Although the executive proposes most new laws, individual deputies of the Majlis also may introduce legislation. Deputies also may propose amendments to bills being debated. The Majlis also drafts legislation, ratifies international treaties, and approves the national budget.
So, basically, the President and the Majlis have powers mostly related to each other! They don’t really partake in any important decision-making, independent passage of laws, management of the Iranian government, appropriation, budgeting, and such other functions that are generally the domain of elected parliaments and presidents.
As,
…all Majlis candidates and all legislation from the assembly must be approved by the Guardian Council. Candidates must pledge in writing that they are committed, in theory and in practice, to the Iranian constitution…
the Parliamentarians and the President are pre-screened by the Supreme Leader’s vetters. No one can get through unless they have Khamenei’s blessings. The Supreme Leader decides the members of the Guardian Council, who in turn decide the members of Parliament and the Assembly of Experts, the other elected puppet body.
It is no secret to anyone that elections in Iran are nothing more than a farce. The President is only a talking head. The Parliament is merely a discussion house. So, what is the big deal with the elections?
BBC reports:
Final campaigning for Iran’s presidential poll has been overshadowed by a row over accusations made by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Huge crowds have been gathering on the streets, as rival candidates hold their last election rallies.
What are crowds so excited about? Another opportunity to voice their their disregarded opinions?
And, what are the choices?
1. the incumbent Ahmedinejad – a madman seeking to destroy Israel, USA, all Sunni countries and the rest of the world
2. the so-called reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi – Prime Minister during the Iran-Iraq war of the ’80s when thousands and thousands of innocent civilians were needlessly slaughtered by both sides. He is credited with “protecting Iran” but at what cost?
He is a member of the Expediency Discernment Council (EDC) and the High Council of Cultural Revolution (HCCR), both extremist organizations appointed by the Supreme Leader to repress the Iranian populace. The EDC’s “true power lies more in its advisory role to the Supreme Leader, who delegated some of his own authority to the council — granting it supervisory powers over all branches of the government.” And the HCCR? Its purpose was to purge the academia of non-Shia and non-Persian influences by using violence, murder and all means necessary.
Wikipedia claims:
…as of 2009, [Moussavi] has not participated in their meetings for a long time which is interpreted by political analysts and commentators as a sign of his disapproval.
If he disapproves, he can resign. Yet, he remains a members of two of the most powerful and repressive organizations in Iran. Interestingly, his so-called “disapproval” is quite timely given this year’s elections. And, he’s called a reformer? An economic reformer he might be, but not otherwise.
3. Mohsen Rezaee – Secretary of the EDC and the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, another political militia designed to suppress dissent and engage in extra-legal violence. Ahmedinejad, redux.
4. Mehdi Karroubi – the only candidate who is not completely a puppet of the establishment. He has criticised the Guardian Council and Khamenei, and heads a party that is reformist but sanctioned by the Supreme Leader. Karroubi is a long shot for the Presidency but represents the only chance for somewhat of a break from current policy. We have to keep in mind that he was, after all, approved by the Guadian Council.
This is not democracy. This ain’t free and fair elections. This is just another episode of the Great Persian Farce. Hope you enjoy it. Next showing 2014! Stay tuned!
