Sources of Iranian political power
Authority is exercised through a regime's institutions. Even in Iran, the power to exercise that authority comes from some kind of political support. Ahmadinejad has the popular mandate of the 2005 election and the backing of the supreme leader. Rafsanjani has the mandate of last December's election, the record of his presidency, and... And what?How well could your students identify the sources of Rafsanjani's support?
The following reports excerpted here might be good places to begin finding out.
Ahmadinejad challenged for control of Iran's economy
"Rafsanjani says his rival has failed to enact reforms
"Row erupts after supreme leader shores up president
"The bitter rivalry between Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the country's leading elder statesman has erupted into a public struggle for control over economic policy.
"Hashemi Rafsanjani, the president's most influential opponent, set the scene for a power struggle by telling Iranian journalists that Mr Ahmadinejad's 'trial period is over'. He said he would use his position as head of the expediency council, a state body empowered to set the Islamic regime's long-term goals, to reshape the government's economic policies.
"The comments are the clearest sign yet of Mr Rafsanjani's revived political clout and follow widespread discontent with Mr Ahmadinejad's economic policies, which have resulted in rising inflation and high unemployment...
"[Rafsanjani] said he had previously kept quiet to give Mr Ahmadinejad time to deliver his election promises, which included reducing poverty and redistributing Iran's oil wealth to the poor. But he had been prompted to speak out by the government's latest budget plans which, Mr Rafsanjani said, increase the country's reliance on oil revenues. He also accused the government of failing to enact privatisation plans enshrined in Iran's constitution..."
The Tehran Times reported that GC can reject laws contrary to Outlook Plan: Rafsanjani
"Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Monday that the Guardian Council can reject laws which run contrary to the 20-Year Outlook Plan.
"'According to the Article 44 privatization plan, the Guardian Council can prevent laws which run contrary to the 20-Year Outlook Plan from being approved,' Rafsanjani told reporters at a press conference.
"In the Iranian legislative system, every parliamentary bill must be approved by the watchdog Guardian Council to become a law and if a problem arises between the two bodies, the Expediency Council arbitrates to resolve the issue..."
posted by Ken Wedding @ 8:54 AM
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Vahid Sepehri, writing for Radio Fre Europe/Radio Liberty, adds more perspective to the mysteries of Iranian politics.
Ex-President Becomes Leading Government Critic
"Some Iranian commentators have observed a realignment of political forces in recent months, provoked by intense rhetoric from President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's government.
"The result could be an opposition comprising forces variously described as centrists or pragmatists, on the one hand, and radicals associated with the president on the other.
"The realignment comes as reformists -- effectively excluded from power since late 2005 -- try to raise their profile as government critics.
"The maneuvering could provide them an opportunity to regroup -- with a somewhat diluted or evolved agenda -- alongside centrist forces hovering around Expediency Council Chairman Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani.
"Rafsanjani is an ex-president with a penchant for liberal economics who has in fact begun to do what reformers have been threatening: criticizing the government in earnest."
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