Iran election: Reformist-backed moderate Rouhani takes massive lead in early results - Polidicks

[img]http://imgkk.com/i/71qv.jpg[/img] [url]http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/06/201361522643286979.html[/url] [url]http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/15/iran-election-moderate-rouhani-leads[/url] [quote]The moderate Iranian cleric Hassan Rouhani has taken a strong lead in the initial results of Iran's presidential election, even holding some chance of winning a simple majority, though a second-round runoff appears more likely. From more than 1.8 million votes counted at 3,573 polling stations, Rouhani had 47.4% of valid ballots, gaining 834,859 votes, with Tehran's mayor, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, next on 320,562 votes and Saeed Jalili falling behind with 257,822. The race appears poised for a runoff vote next week, with the reformist-backed Rouhani competing with a conservative rival, likely to be Ghalibaf or Saeed Jalili. But if the gap between Rouhani's votes and the remaining five candidates continues, an outright win in the first round is not out of the question.[/quote]

[quote]A former Western ambassador to Iran who had dealings with Rowhani during the Khatami administration described him as "approachable and no-nonsense," likely to be "a calm, orthodox, efficient and straightforward servant ... and less a charismatic or an independent figure".[/quote] [quote]He has been pulling large crowds wherever he has been on the campaign trail - speaking of reform, promising to free political prisoners, to guarantee civil rights and promising to return "dignity to the nation". In televised debates, he has been raising taboo subjects, such as the nuclear stand-off with world powers, damaging international sanctions, the dire state of the economy and Iran's extreme isolation in the international community. He has also vowed to restore diplomatic ties with Iran's old enemy, the United States, which cut relations with Iran in the aftermath of the 1979 seizure of the US embassy in Tehran by Islamist students. Mr Rouhani has been urging Iranians to vote, saying that the hardliners "don't want you to vote, they want to win the [/quote] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22886729[/url]

Glad to see this. I studied Iran this year during a Comparative Politics course and there is a very strong Reformist undercurrent in the country. A reformist president is the first step to improving the situation of Iran both in the country and in its foreign relations. The conservatives are lodged in power with Khatami as the Supreme leader, but this is hopeful in terms of gradual change coming to the country.

Did they forget to rig it this time or what

I was a little surprised when I found out about this guy, he is a reformist cleric.

Holy shit, Rouhani [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22916174]now has 51%[/url] of votes counted, which would be enough to win without a second round

He looks kind of like a friendly grandpa. Then again, Ahmadimidimidijad looked friendly too.

[QUOTE]"It has taken them seven hours to count 800,000 votes while four years ago they counted almost 30 million votes in few hours," one Iranian living in Tehran said via online chat on Facebook. "It might be a good sign that actually this time they're really counting." Analysts believe rigging is less likely this year because Ahmadinejad is not running and the government has not endorsed any of the candidates. [/QUOTE] Lets hope this is a real election and real reform is pushed through. Hopefully this guy isn't assassinated by the opposition or CIA.

[QUOTE=Rangergxi;41043244]Lets hope this is a real election and real reform is pushed through. Hopefully this guy isn't assassinated by the opposition or CIA.[/QUOTE]Dunno why you'd think the CIA would have a go at him; this guy sounds like someone the US might find more tolerable, but hopefully not a pushover.

Uh, this doesn't matter, since elected officials in Iran have essentially zero real power.

[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;41046076]Uh, this doesn't matter, since elected officials in Iran have essentially zero real power.[/QUOTE] They have influence and they make policy, which is approved by the supreme leader. He can bring more reformist minds to his cabinet etc and he is essentially the face of Iran.

it's no surprise. i read a statistic that over half of Iranians are under the age of 25 or 30. many of the urban youth are much more critical of their government and more open towards cooperation with the West, mostly because of the widespread use of satellite T.V. there. Iran isn't the fanatical Islamic wonderland that the media in the U.S. sometimes makes it seem to be, there are a lot of different opinions, depending on who you ask.

Ahmadenijad had no real power. He was at the mercy of the Ayatollah. As is this guy. You aren't going to get into the election without his approval. Things won't change.

[QUOTE=Ridge;41047167]Ahmadenijad had no real power. He was at the mercy of the Ayatollah. As is this guy. You aren't going to get into the election without his approval. Things won't change.[/QUOTE] if the Ayatollah completely ignores largely popular opinion and doesn't approve him for election, it's definitely going to piss a lot of Iranians off.

[QUOTE=joes33431;41047182]if the Ayatollah completely ignores largely popular opinion and doesn't approve him for election, it's definitely going to piss a lot of Iranians off.[/QUOTE] He's been doing that for decades. Still there.

[QUOTE=Ridge;41047196]He's been doing that for decades. Still there.[/QUOTE] eventually, one election is going to turn into one election too many. s'all i'm saying.

It's official- Rouhani won

[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;41043486]Dunno why you'd think the CIA would have a go at him; this guy sounds like someone the US might find more tolerable, but hopefully not a pushover.[/QUOTE] Because even if he wants to reform the country, he'd do it for Iran and woudn't become the US of A' bitch if they come knocking. So that there is big enough of a reason for the CIA to go back in, unfortunetly.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/68p48sz.jpg[/img] well done iran [editline]15th June 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=LtKyle2;41047564]Because even if he wants to reform the country, he'd do it for Iran and woudn't become the US of A' bitch if they come knocking. So that there is big enough of a reason for the CIA to go back in, unfortunetly.[/QUOTE] fuck

[QUOTE=LtKyle2;41047564]Because even if he wants to reform the country, he'd do it for Iran and woudn't become the US of A' bitch if they come knocking. So that there is big enough of a reason for the CIA to go back in, unfortunetly.[/QUOTE] By that logic, why hasn't the CIA been taking shots at every Iranian President preceding this one? They've been much more hostile to the United States.

This is fantastic. Yay for democratic accountability in the end or smth