Today millions of Iranians are voting to elect a new president. As of now, there are basically two candidates who are fighting for the title.
In the red corner: The reigning conservative president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who has held his seat since 2005.
He claims that the holocaust is a myth and denies the state of Israel to exist, he wants it, as he has been quoted to say: “wiped of the map”.
He has held a very aggressive and controversial foreign policy which has created an intricate and tense relationship to western countries, particularly the US. On Iran’s nuclear program Ahmedinejad has said it is for peaceful purposes. However he has not been very cooperative on showing the world this and has therefore been imposed with sanction from the UN.
Mr. Ahmedinejad also claims that there are no gay people in Iran.
Apparently Maroon 5 think he’s denying he’s own gay feelings and made this song for him at Saturday Night Live. Cheers for making me aware of this one Jessica!
In the green corner: The reformist politician Mir Hossein Mousavi.
Mr Mousavi’s main objectives for the campaign have been: to institutionalize social justice, equality and fairness and freedom of expression. He is also pro privatization, among other things he wants to remove the state monopoly on TV stations.
Morover he wants men and women to be treated (more) equal and has promised to review laws that discriminate against women in Iran if he wins.
Last but not least wants to improve Iran’s stance in the world by negotiating with other countries especially US president Barack Obama.
By holding presidential election one could think that Iran is a true democracy, which is not correct. Since the revolution in 1979 the real power is held by the clerics in the shape of the Supreme Leader who decides who can run for an election and also has a final say in both foreign and domestic policies.
However what’s happening in Iran right now is unprecedented and it is a proof that change is coming.
The Swedish embassy in Iran said that if none of the candidates gets a majority there will be a second vote. In that case I’ll be landing in the middle of the election circus and recommended me to watch the news casts carefully – let’s just hope that Mr Mousavi wins on knock-out in the first round.
For more info about the election: As Iran votes, talk of a sea change (take notice of the video clip as well), Irans women may save it.
