Reformists in the mindset of Fath-e-Pastor
Reformists in the mindset of Fath-e-Pastor considered the helicopter crash of Seyed Abrahim Raeisi and some of his companions on their way back from the inauguration ceremony of a joint dam with the Republic of Azerbaijan as one of the unpredictable events that not only involved the Iranian political society but also created circumstances that have forced, for the third time in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the holding of early presidential elections. This is a significant issue that has heavily engaged political parties and groups, and they are currently negotiating and planning on how to participate in the upcoming elections in July of this year and secure their preferred choice for the fourteenth government presidency.
Among the reformists, the discussion of the presidential elections naturally emerged as a topic of debate among political activists. Parties and groups hold their sessions on this subject. In addition to the reformist parties and groups, the Reformists Front is also present as a unifying assembly of reformist parties and groups. The unifying assembly, which declared its existence in 1399 after the dissolution of the Coordination Council of the Reformists Front, is now on the verge of its third electoral activity and is holding sessions to determine its policy regarding the upcoming elections.
The Reformists Front and the Third Experience
After forming, the Reformists Front embarked on its first electoral experience regarding the thirteenth presidential elections in 1400. They began their activities in this field from the beginning of Ordibehesht of that year.
Meetings were held and they announced their intention to participate in the elections. Their preferred candidate was going to register for candidacy. However, after the Guardian Council disqualified the reformist candidates, the Reformist Front officially declared that they will not have a candidate in the 1400 presidential elections. In a statement, it was mentioned that the Guardian Council, in a premeditated move, eliminated representatives of all political factions except for one specific faction. Among the 9 candidates introduced by the General Assembly of the Reformist Front, all had registered and the Front intended to select its final candidate from among them.
However, with all of them being disqualified, the Front now has no candidate to introduce to the people in the 1400 elections. In our view, this action is not just about removing the reformists, but the main message is the exclusion of the people from the decision-making process in the country.
Reformists tried to prevent any tension during the elections by introducing a wide range of individuals and tendencies. However, it became clear that some groups insistently want to prevent people with different political tastes from participating in the elections and intend for the elections to be held with minimal participants and a specific taste. We present this report to the great nation of Iran so that they can be the true owners of the country and be aware of our efforts and the destructive actions of others.
Of course, some reformist parties and groups have maintained their activities and have supported Abdolnaser Hemmati. Also, Behzad Nabavi, who was in charge of the Front of Reforms at that time, had requested people to participate in the elections by releasing a video.
The second electoral experience of the Front of Reforms in the past year during the twelfth parliamentary elections was marked by differences compared to the presidential elections of 2021, yet it ultimately ended with a common result.
The Reformist Front announced in statements released before the parliamentary elections that it will not present an electoral list in Tehran, but the decision-making in provinces will be the responsibility of provincial fronts, a process that was repeated in the provinces as well, as they followed the same path that was adopted by the Reformist Front in the center.
In a part of the statements released by the Reformist Front at that time, it was mentioned that after months of continuous examination and monitoring of the country’s political developments, the performance of the government and officials, the elections, and receiving opinions from experts and parties nationwide, and especially considering the people’s approach, the Reformist Front determined its electoral strategy for the upcoming elections based on the fact that it cannot participate in an election that is devoid of meaning, non-competitive, unfair, and ineffective in governing the country.
The Front of Islamic Revolution Forces of Iran also warns that the responsibility for the consequences and risks arising from the decrease in people’s participation in elections for power and national security lies with the authorities and officials who have rendered the ballot ineffective in the country. It declares that the only solution to the country’s problems is to establish a strong and independent parliament and government through holding free, fair, competitive, and effective elections with the presence of representatives from all spectrums and intellectual tastes.
Therefore, we prioritize granting governance to holding free, competitive, and meaningful elections in our demands and alongside working to empower Iranian society, we will also devote ourselves to organizing such elections in the future.
Based on this, the Front of Islamic Revolution Forces did not present an electoral list in the elections of last February and, unlike in 2021, did not take any action to support electoral candidates, remaining only spectators.
However, two parties within the Front of Islamic Revolution Forces, namely the Executives of Construction Party and the Voice of Iranians Party, introduced and supported some candidates in certain provinces, who were successful in some electoral districts. Now, the Front of Islamic Revolution Forces is on the verge of its third electoral decision by holding the early presidential elections for the fourteenth term.
They have held two sessions in the past days and will have more sessions in the coming days. We should see what the outcome of the sessions of the Reform Front will be this time. Will the groundwork be laid for the Reform Front to officially support a candidate for the first time, or will the Guardian Council once again take a repetitive approach that will not provide any support.
Persian
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