Analysing the just held French parliamentary elections that ended Sunday with the overwhelming victory of President Jacques Chirac’s Union for the Presidential Majority, Dr. Shahin Fatemi, a professor of Economics at the American University of Paris (AUP) said this trend to the right might be a welcome development for the Iranians living in Europe.

Pointing out to the fact that in the past, both the European left and right had "disappointed" the people of Iran in its struggle against the ruling theocracy, by their connivance with the regime of Mullah's in Teheran, Dr. Fatemi said nevertheless, this swing to the right, might be a positive aspect for the Iranian people and their national struggle for freedom, democracy and human rights.

Below comes Mr. Fatemi’s article published Monday in his website, "Iran va Jahan" (Iran and the World) under the title of "Siding With Liberators or Connivance With Evil: The New Europe at a Crossroad".

Never before in the history of France's Fifth Republic any head of state has had the overwhelming popular and parliamentary support that President Jacques Chirac has just obtained. His personal victory on 5 May when he received over 82% of the popular vote was complemented yesterday with another unprecedented victory in the second round of parliamentary elections. His supporters now control more than two-third of the seats in the parliament. Combined with their control of the Senate, which they have had for sometime, now the liberal or right-of-centre political forces in France have complete control of the Presidency, the National Assembly (lower house of the parliament) and the Senate.

What is more interesting is the fact that for the first time in modern French history the voters were given a very clear choice between an interventionist, rigid, high-taxation, socialist government and a liberal alternative which had clearly indicated its priorities of reducing taxes, liberalising the economy and improving the security of the citizens. The Chirac program called for a 30% reduction in taxes over the five-year period that the mandate of the new administration and the new parliament will last. In addition they have clearly emphasised their preference for "less government," revision of the social security system and allowing for introduction of market-oriented investment of state pension funds.

In spite of frequent warnings regarding the extreme right, the National Front, as well as the extreme left, failed to obtain any seats in the new parliament. Several leading members of the former socialist government failed to keep their parliamentary seats and were defeated by their liberal opponents. This outcome was not much of a surprise for the French or the Europeans. There seems to be a trend in Europe toward right-of-the-centre governments. During the past several years they have won elections in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Holland, Belgium and now France. Next September there will be elections in Germany and the polls are predicting the defeat of the socialist and election of a Christian Democrat as the next Chancellor.

For the Iranian people and their national struggle for freedom, democracy and human rights, one would hope, this might be a welcome development. However, the past record of the European conservatives as well as the socialists and the social-democrats, in relation to the ongoing struggle of the Iranian people, has been a mixed one. There have been many disappointing moments when both the right and the left have disappointed the people of Iran by their connivance with the regime of Mullah's in Teheran. For instance, it has been shocking for many Iranians to witness the continued visits of European officials to a country where, secret trials, amputation of limbs, public hanging of men and stoning of women are common practice. On the other hand, there have been some brief moments when the principled-positioning of the European governments has forced the Mullah's to back down. A good example was set with the Salman Rushdi case, which led to the eventual capitulation of the Iranian regime.

Editor’s note: the above article was published Monday by Iran va Jahan website.

Highlights are from IPS