Iran went to polls amidst unprecedented security covers for
the election of new President in the place of Ahmedi Nejad, the outgoing
President after four years of rule, ie from 2009, is bowing out of office
paving the way for the incoming President. Mr. Nejad was in the saddle for the
second time. His relationship with Iranian Religious Supremo Ayatollah Ali
Khomeni, though rosy in the beginning later turned sour on a slew of issues.
His nominee and close relative must have been disqualified from contesting the
elections by the Guardian Council which comes under the direct control of
Ayatollah Ali Khomeni, the religious Supremo could be linked with this bitter
relationship.
In the elections held on Friday a huge chunk of electorate
marched to the polling booths to elect the new President. Almost 50 million
exercised their franchise which is reported by media agencies. In an election
contested by six candidate except one, who is a centrist and who does have the
generous support of reformists like Muhammad Khatamei and Ali Akbar Rafsanjani.
The other five candidates are conservative owing allegiance to the religious
Supremo especially Ali Akbar Velayati
and Sayed Jalili who was incidentally Iran’s top nuclear negotiator with the P5
+ 1 nations.
US is maintaining a close watch on the situation developing
in the backdrop of elections for a new President in Iran. Iran which remained
defiant on the issue of nuclear enrichment during Ahmedi Nejad’s rule is unlikely
to soften its stance on the latter issue, despite biting sanctions slapped upon
it by the US led P5 + 1 nations.
US’s apprehension of Iran manufacturing nuclear weapons may
not die down or disappear after Ahmedi Nejad. Decades of enmity, to be specific,
since 1979 revolution Iran is likely to continue unabated as long as a
pro-Western dispensation is poised to rule the country. With the coming to an
end of Sha Muhammed Reza Pahlavi who was a dictator as well as a US lackey,
Iran is unlikely to be under a pro-US regime.
So be it. If any of the contestants on Friday’s elections
fail to win 50 percent margin in the first round of counting a second round will
have to be held on June 21, 2013.
Of late the Reformist backed centric Hassan Raouhani has been decalred the winner thus avoiding a run-off on June 21.
TURKISH TURMOIL
While this is election time in Iran, Turkey witnesses
another grim scenario. Recep Tayyip Erdogan who came to power on a popular wave
is struggling hard to suppress a turmoil raging across the country ever since
he emerged as the third President in a row, turned to Islamisation of Turkey.
The man who since 2003 after winning three consecutive wins,
of late, has bared out dictatorial tendencies. In the beginning his economic
reforms gave the country a face-lift which brought him laurels from across the
masses and nations the world over showed signs of decline with him turning to
be an incorrigible Islamist which includes banning of alcohol, citizens kissing
in public and curtailing the rights of women confining them to the four walls
of their homes.
His measures opened a can of worms resulting in months long
rebellion which the people term Turkish Spring.
Their claim of Turkish Spring has been castigated by
Mr.Erdogan by declaring that spring had already bloomed and what Turkey
witnesses is nothing but a rebellion to oust him from power or to force him
mend his ways.
As Lord Acton said, “power corrupts and absolute power
corrupts absolutely”.
Turkey now bears testimony to this dictum.
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