Iran's ex_Pres Holds Early Lead In Elections - Political Forum

CHUQ · 12-17-2006, 05:28 AM

TEHRAN, Dec.16 — Early electoral returns on Saturday suggested that a moderate former president, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, had a strong a lead over a conservative opponent in at least one of the elections held Friday.

The semi-official Fars news agency reported that most candidates on the slate led by Mr. Rafsanjani were headed for a victory in the elections for the 86-member Assembly of Experts. Muhammad Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, the hard-line cleric, had also received enough votes to get elected. Other Web sites reported that Mr. Rafsanjani received far more votes personally than Mr. Mesbah-Yazdi.

http://fairuse.100webcustomers.com/sf/nyt12_17_6_7.htm

Is this a good thing? Or just business as usual?

CHUQ · 12-17-2006, 05:30 AM

RAN hailed nationwide elections to local councils and a powerful clerical body as a success today and said healthy voter turnout would help the Islamic Republic confront its Western foes.

Yesterday's vote was the first popularity test for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose anti-Israel rhetoric alarms many in the West, since he took office 16 months ago.

Official results for the twin polls for local councils and the so-called Assembly of Experts are not expected until late today at the earliest, officials said

http://www.news.com.au/sundayheralds...005961,00.html

I guess we will have to wait for the count.

CHUQ · 12-18-2006, 06:05 AM

Moderate opponents of Mahmoud Ahmadi Nejad have made gains in twin Iranian elections, leaving ultra-conservative allies of the president well short of an overall victory, initial results showed yesterday.
Centrist scholar Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani appeared to have sprung a surprise by reaping by far the most votes and beating a hardline rival in the election for the Assembly of Experts, the body that chooses the Supreme Leader.

Bahrain Tribune Daily Newspaper, Bahrain

More election news from Iran.

Brother Oz · 12-18-2006, 08:03 AM

This is a good thing, and shows that most Iranians aren't happy with their president, who we must remember was elected mainly on his leftist economic strategy, not his hardline foreign stance.

Troianii · 12-18-2006, 03:27 PM

I would like to see him out by Iranian vote. I think that the Middle East would be more peaceful with him gone, although even if he is removed from office he will likely still be a powerful voice, at least for a while.

CHUQ · 12-18-2006, 04:17 PM

The pres is a figure head real power lies with the religious leaders. If it is what they want, the pres will follow.

SamInTheSouth · 12-18-2006, 06:30 PM

This is certainly a step in the right direction. My impression of Iran is that while it's government is fanatical, the Iranian people has a whole are more moderate and don't approve of their government's direction and inflammatory rhetoric.

CHUQ · 12-19-2006, 04:08 AM

Only the young urban dwellers are that mod, the rest or pretty much following suit.

CHUQ · 12-19-2006, 04:20 AM

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was facing electoral embarrassment yesterday after his supporters apparently failed to win control of key councils in elections and his most powerful opponent enjoyed a political comeback.

Early results from last Friday's election suggested that the president's Sweet Scent of Service coalition had won only three out of 15 seats on the symbolically important Tehran city council, foiling Mr Ahmadinejad's plan to oust the mayor and replace him with an ally. The outcome appeared to be mirrored elsewhere, with councils returning a majority of reformists and moderate fundamentalists opposed to the presiden

Whatya think?

Ahmadinejad loses first electoral test as political rivals win key seats | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited

CHUQ · 12-19-2006, 04:26 AM

The results of Iran’s elections for local councils and the powerful Assembly of Experts have been tensely awaited as the first test of the president’s popularity since he took office last year.

DEBKAfile’s Tehran sources report that his followers, seeing which way the wind was blowing, took matters in their own hands. Backed by armed Revolutionary Guards, they stormed the counting sessions Monday, Dec. 18, using threats and physical harassment to force the counters to falsify the results and reverse the gains

Thought I would post this after reading it because it WILL be believable to most.

DEBKAfile - Ahmadinejad’s Followers Ordered to Falsify Election Results