THE BALL IS NOW IN THE COURT OF MR. ALI KHAMENEH'I
PARIS 11 June (IPS) With Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Khatami officially declared victorious in the eighth Iranian president elections held Friday, analysts are turning their attention to the "landslide defeat" of the conservatives, despite having dispatched to the race course nine of their stalwarts.
According to the last official results given by the Interior Ministry and
reported by the official news agency IRNA, Mr. Khatami got 21,656,476 of the
votes, followed by:
Ahmad Tavakoli 4,387,112 (15.6 percent)
Ali Shamkhani 737,051 (2.6 percent)
Abdollah Jasbi 259,759 (0.9 percent)
Mahmud Kashani 237,660 (0.8 percent)
Hassan Ghafuri-Fard 129,155 (0.5 percent)
Mansur Razavi 114,616 (0.4 percent)
Shahabeddin Sadr 60,546 (0.2 percent)
Ali Fallahian 55,225 (0.2 percent)
Mostafa Hashemi-Taba 27,949 (0.1 percent)
But the ministry made a radical downward revision of turnout figures, saying just 67 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots Friday, after reporting early Saturday that 83 percent had done so.
Another immediate conclusion is that all the nine conservatives-backed candidates got together more or less the same percentage as the conservatives scored in the past elections.
The third is the devastating blow dealt to Hojjatoleslam Ali Falahian, the former Intelligence Minister who, in the eyes of Iranians, is responsible for the murder of hundreds Iranian political and intellectual dissidents.
By taking part in the elections, Mr. Fallahian wanted to give himself a face-lift. But the Iranians slapped him badly.
The result shows that at least one third of the 42 millions electorate did not took part in the exercise, against a mere five millions in the previous elections.
Though Mr Khatami scored 77 per cent of the votes, up from 70 per cent he got in the 1997 race, yet, considering the increase in the number of the voters, his score is lower compared to the precedent one.
Nevertheless, even as such, he has become the first Iranian president to increase his votes from previous elections, against both Ayatollah Ali Khamenehe'i and Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani that got much less votes in the second terms.
Several analysts attributed variously the important absenteeism as a "vote of no confidence", a "protest vote", lack of interest, (as Mr. Khatami’s being re-elected was a forgone conclusion) and the result of the appeals by opposition organisations and personalities to boycott the elections.
Now that the Iranians once again rejected the conservatives, it remains to see whether their leader, Mr. Khamenehe'i, will draw any lesson from this new bitter defeat by giving the president more manoeuvring room or would continue his systematic opposition to the reforms process.
Some analysts made a comparison between the attitude of the British conservatives, whose leader resigned immediately after their defeat in the Thursday parliamentarian elections and that of the Iranians who, despite two successive humiliations, continue to clinch to power, an instrument they pretend to have received from God, not the people.
Mr. Abbas Salimi Namin, the Editor of the pro-conservative English language daily "Tehran Times" believes that the conservatives would, this time, review the reasons of their continued defeat and prepare themselves for a come back via ballot boxes.
A colleague confirmed his view. "If Mr. Khatami tries elevating his government from a factional government to a national one, I believe the conservatives are prepared for co-operation", said Mr. Amir Mohebian, a senior columnist at "Resalat". "On the other hand, the conservatives are very seriously trying to reorganise their own camps to try to get closer to public opinion", he added.
Supporters of Mr. Khatami and reform process have the same wish, hoping that the conservatives have heard the voice of the people and would take a backbench.
They also hope that with the ballot boxes having talked loud and clear, Mr. Khamenehe'i would help the situation return to normal, by authorising some, if not all, the banned papers reappear and order the release of the imprisoned journalists and Islamist-nationalists.
In fact, the fundamentalist Khameneh’i will play an important role in determining the path Mr. Khatami will be allowed to pursue the reforms, for, as the leader, he concentrates all powers in his hands.
For Mr. Mehdi Khalaji, a former member of "Entekhab", the moderate pro-conservative daily, the conservatives repeated their previous mistakes, as, besides lacking political courage and honesty, they continued to spoke about the past with a population that looks more and more to the future as is helped by new technologies of communications.
"They deserve to be labelled as shameful conservatives, as they refused to present an official candidate while fielding nine unofficial ones who, in turn, would present themselves as independent. The voters did not liked such manners, nor did they accepted the values defended by the conservatives", he commented.
In the absence of any reaction from conservative’s tenors, except Mr. Khamenehe'i who congratulated the Iranians for the "firm support" they expressed for Islam and the Islamic Republic, mouthpieces in the press like "Resalat" and "Siasat Rooz" just ignored the massive votes given to Mr. Khatami.
In a message addressed to the Iranian nation, Ayatollah Khameneh’i praised them for their "sincere defence of the Islamic system", saying their turnout in the election had neutralized the enemy plots, aimed at discouraging the people from voting.
"Once more, you insisted on not heeding the demands of the hegemonic and interfering powers which were trying to discourage the nation from attending ballot boxes," he told Iranians in the message.
In his first post-election, victory speech, Mr. Khatami said, "What is necessary for us, today and in the future, is to strengthen the democratic system and to protect the people's rights within a religious framework. It is also vital for us to recognize and define our economic priorities and needs as well as solving the society's major concerns through correct and appropriate planning".
"The journey on the road which has been paved by the people's wishes can only be completed through their vigilance", Mr. Khatami further reiterated.
"The urgent demand of today and tomorrow is to instil and deepen republicanism, give back the legitimate rights of the people in line with the (Islamic) religion, identify priorities in the economic field and solve basic problems of the society under a prudent agenda", he observed.
"The real victory is that the nation has strived to present a right and just model of a civil society based on religion and morality alongside democracy and freedom", he said, adding that "patience, moderation and prudence" as well as "commitment to the ideals of the Islamic Revolution" were needed as prerequisites to sort out social problems of the country and meet public demands.
"An open and healthy legal atmosphere; freedom of speech and criticism, even protest as long as it is within the legal framework; protection of this climate and efforts to strengthen it, are the prerequisites for a quicker and greater victory", Mr. Khatami reminded.
His second victory triggered jubilation throughout Iran, where residents in several cities distributed sweets and cheered slogans in his support.
It was to prevent such demonstrations that the leader-controlled Radio and Television withhold until well after midnight the broadcast of the final results.
In the religious city of Qom, some 2000 pro-Khatami supporters went to the residence of Grand Ayatollah Hoseinali Montazeri, chanting "Long live Khatami, Long live Montazeri", before clashing with security men.
Mr. Montazeri, the highest Iranians and Shi’as religious authority, is living under house arrest conditions since October 1997 after he strong criticised Ayatollah Khamenehe'I for both his interferences in the affairs of the president and his lavish lifestyle.
In Mash-had, another religious centre, Law Enforcement Forces arrested 30 young demonstrators who were cheering the victory of Mr. Khatami
Citizens in western city of Ilam, near the Iraqi border, spilled to streets, as car drivers honked their horns, prompting traffic to come to a standstill.
In southern city of Marvdasht, near Shiraz, many youth waved pictures of Khatami and marched through the streets.
Emirs of Bahrain and Qatar, and the Sultan of Oman as well as some European leaders congratulated Mr. Khatami over his re-election.
A Russian foreign ministry official on Saturday welcomed Khatami's victory, saying it "lends confidence that the course of comprehensive cooperation between Russia and Iran declared during Khatami's visit to Moscow in the spring will be continued."
A spokesman for the US State Department said the victory of President Khatami is the expression of the will of Iranians for democracy, independence and freedoms.
Morocco's King Mohammed VI congratulated Mohammad Khatami for his re-election, saying "I am taking this happy occasion to reiterate... my determination to work with you to strengthen the brotherly Islamic ties and fruitful cooperation which unites our two peoples," the king said in the statement.
Text of statement by Mr. Khatami, as read by Iranian TV
In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. The enthusiastic presence of the people in the elections of 18 Khordad 1380 [8 June 2001] is evidence to the intelligence and pride of a nation which has experienced numerous events of epic proportion in its history. This is a nation, which has always tried to present a successful model of social order and civil attitude strengthened by religious faith and democracy.
This is the real victory. It is certainly not very easy for one to reciprocate the support, which he has received from this nation. I extend my congratulation on this occasion [elections] to the esteemed leader of the Islamic revolution, religious scholars, intellectuals and experts of our society and to all Iranians, especially to our youths and adolescents whose intelligence, sincerity and enthusiastic presence will ensure a bright future for our beloved Iran.
I would like to thank all segments of our society and those involved in political and cultural spheres. I also would like to thank the civil institutions, political parties, media and the press.
I would like to sincerely thank all the honourable candidates in the eight presidential elections [since the Islamic revolution] whose great commitment, views, ideas, criticisms, discussions and solutions enchanted the strength of the elections and encouraged a greater participation by the people in the process. I hope that the next government would be able to consider and pursue some of their ideas.
At the present, the proud and honourable people of Iran, as a worthy victor in this arena, have reasonable demands and stand resolute expecting the system and the government to take bigger steps towards fulfilling their wishes. What is necessary for us, today and in the future, is to strengthen the democratic system and to protect the people's rights within a religious framework. It is also vital for us to recognize and define our economic priorities and needs as well as solving the society's major concerns through correct and appropriate planning.
Now, it is we and our promise to God and this great nation. We ask for God's help and invest our hopes in co-operation of various organizations and depend on people's support and guidance at all times. The journey on the road, which has been paved by the people’s wishes, can only be completed through their vigilance.
It is important for us to stay committed to the aspirations of the Islamic revolution and the principles of the proposed plans. We must not astray from the path and remain patient, tolerant, wise and moderate under all circumstances and at all times. Serving the glorious Islamic revolution and the great aspirations of the venerable founder of the Islamic republic, Imam Khomeini, who symbolized faith, aspirations and will of this nation and its pride; paying respect to the pure blood of the honourable martyrs who gave their lives for God, defence of Islam and protection of this nation and its rights; acknowledging the war-disabled and war-veterans who are the heroes of this nation. All these are possible only through solidarity and unity of all forces in a democratic system, which nurtures its talents in order to solve its various economic, social, cultural and political problems.
I thank God for bestowing his grace on this nation on the birthday anniversary of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family and his son Imam Ja'ffar Sadeq [shi'i eight Imam], which was evident in the fateful votes of the people. It demonstrated the dynamism of the Islamic republic. I ask God to give this humble servant of his an opportunity to serve this great, determined and cultured nation. Their help and prayers will enable us to take bigger steps. We will not be able to reach our ultimate destination unless you afford us the first few steps [poetry]. ENDS POST ELECTIONS 11601