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EVERYONE WINS IN IRANIAN ELECTION

June 12 2009

Tehran, Iran – Politics in Iran haven’t been an easy business for a very long time. Since the overthrow of Prime Minister Mohammed Mosaddeq in 1953 the country has moved from one dictator to another and the appearance of a democratic process which has never been seen as the height of democracy. Since the end of true
democracy with the installation of the Shah as leader the turmoil in the country has led to increasingly radical behaviour and, some have argued, a complete perversion of the essence of democracy.

With the most recent elections now more or less concluded, that criticism of the Iranian political system has not abated. Though incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has already claimed victory, his principle challenger, former Prime Minister Mirhossein Mousavi has done the same leading many to wonder if the country hasn’t stumbled across a new version of Democracy, one much like the American sport of Tee Ball where everyone who joins the team gets a chance at bat. Though observers think it likely that Ahmadinejad will retain power for at least the majority of the time, the exercise in fair play democracy has observers around the world but excited and concerned about the connotations.

“Look, the United States has gone through this kind of thing before. The back and forth between George Bush and Al Gore in a lot of ways was the ultimate test and
triumph of the democratic process but it also sharply divided the country. No one can
know what might have happened had it gone the other way, but we are now seeing Iran something that might have been. The vote was split down the centre, and so should the Presidency have been,” said Scrape TV Political analyst Gabriel Kinsey. “Of course the differences between Iran and the United States are quite significant. Outside the oppression and religious fanaticism, Iran’s democratically elected leaders really don’t have a lot to do but go out and make speeches. For pure governing the President is more or less irrelevant so a shared leadership is really a reasonable thing. In the US the President has to work so sharing might be a lot more difficult to accomplish.”

Iran is currently ruled by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who has never shared power with the President since taking charge in 1989. His presence is seen as less important to the Democratic process due to his position not being an elected one.

“When it comes to the President of Iran it’s really the one who will best work on the public stage. Ahmadinejad has served that position well but this surge of popularity for a contender could give the Iranian leadership some options,” said Democracy Observer Hans Houston. “Now they are not stuck with one person all of the time. If he becomes undesirable you can simply replace him with one of the other contenders. You can even keep him in waiting in case the others don’t work out but what this does is give options, something Democracy has really never had at least post election.”

Outside assassination and one encouraged resignation, no U.S. President has ever been forced out of office before his term came due. In the majority of democracies throughout the world the people are stuck with their choices no matter what actions the leader may take.

“I don’t think anyone would have expected a revolution in democracy from the current
Iranian government but they may very well have done that. This kind of power sharing has never been attempted before but really Iran is the best place to try considering how little power the President really has. There’s not a whole lot of risk involved and so there’s nothing to lose,” continued Kinsey. “I mean from sharing nuclear technology to spreading weapons throughout the Middle East Iran has become one of the more sociable countries in the world. Most countries hold on to what they’ve got with an iron fist but this new attitude of sharing is really a pleasant surprise that will hopefully continue.”

Reportedly both President’s have supported a national Tee Ball team, something that became a major debate in the election.

Emil Uliya, International Correspondent

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