by Dariush Mirzai

Six days since the elections, the interior minister has not yet released final results. Unprecedented protest statement signed by 200 journalists.

Tehran (AsiaNews) – Five days after the elections of December 15 in Iran, all results have still not been published. This situation is clearly linked with 3 major characteristics and facts: until the last minute, the control on the media has been extreme – the vote and counting procedures have been chaotic – Ahmadinejad has been defeated at the elections.

Ahmadinejad refused to consider these elections as a “test” but declared nevertheless that, with 62 % participation, these elections have been a victory for the people, a “glorious epic” and even an encouragement for the Government. The deputy Interior Minister in charge of Parliamentary affairs called yesterday on the reformists “not to damage the national epic of the elections” and “not to sour the sweet taste of this grand election by grumbling about minor and imaginary concerns”.

In an ideological and cultural system where the lie is not only allowed but even compulsory in some cases of necessity, it is enough to read today’s statement of the Supreme Leader, in order to find a confirmation of the existence of serious problems: “The nation has again manifested the meaning of religious democracy. I thank Almighty God who brought honour to the Iranian nation in yet another big test and to a country that is honoured for being a standard-bearer for Islam. The psychological campaign of the enemies, which had been planned weeks before with various tools and methods, could not weaken the national will. The way people voted, which demonstrate their attachment to the foundations of the Revolution and the increasing presence of the people, documenting their highly motivated presence on the scene, sent a clear message to all friends and enemies of the nation”.

So, “Everything OK”, as Iranian people often say in English – especially when there is a problem! In fact, the winners of the election (the conservative Rafsanjani as well as the reformist Khatami and Karroubi) have expressed concerns about the manner of vote-counting and, this afternoon, have met senior officials. Former President Khatami met with the Interior Minister and the Parliament Speaker (who are considered as supervisors of the Local Council elections). In parallel, the powerful Rafsanjani, together with the reformist leader Karroubi (both former Parliament speaker) have also had some important meetings in camera with high officials. In addition, Mirdamadi, secretary-general of the reformist “Participation Front” wrote to the Interior Minister Pourmohammadi and asked for immediate transparency and publication of detailed results (of each ballot box and vote-counting site in Tehran).

In Iran, observers consider that no election has been so “controlled” and “chaotic” at the same time. The lack of transparency explains the chaos and rumours during and after the voting process. More than 200 journalists have signed a strong statement against Ahmadinejad and his Interior Minister: “The manner in which the 9th government treats reporters and recent restrictions imposed on reporters by the Interior Ministry and by the Interior Minister himself concerning news coverage of the elections has reached its peak and has created serious concerns among the news community. This type of action creates a vague image at the international level about the free flow of information in Iran and is indicative of the lack of a correct view toward the role of media men within the incumbent government. Signatories of the statement condemn these actions and warn against any expectation of the reporters and journalists being turned into staff of the Ahmadinejad administration’s public relations department. We call for a change in this trend and the creation of grounds for free flow of information and demand an apology by the 9th government”.

This freedom of tone is surprising. After these elections, opponents of Ahmadinejad make use of the momentum. However, soon, it will be the Leader to decide if he wants to take into account the voter’s message – or if he may first of all be concerned about the excess of power of Rafsanjani. Divide and rule, in Latin “Divide et Impera”: Khamenei may give soon some support to Ahmadinejad, even if for the populist President, who wants to be an “Islamic Robin Hood”, the vote of the people cannot be ignored.

• iran
• elections
• protests
• ahmadinejad
• khamanei
• khatami
• Rafsanjani
• fear
• of
• fraud