Iran

Optimism in Tehran

After the electoral success of the reformers, many Iranians hope for political changes. The game room is not large, but the conditions were so good, reported Theresa Tropper from Tehran.

Young people in Tehran

The countless election posters with the faces of the reformers, which were distributed until recently, everywhere in the city, disappeared on Meydane Valiasr. Shortly after the vote, the square in the centre of Tehran almost looks as before. Everyday life, but there is still a long time – because the euphoria of Election day and the
surprisingly clear result here in the capital, the mood changed: “the success of The Reformer gives us hope,” says a young man with far aufgeknöpftem shirt. It must change urgently something in the country. He knows that The chances of this happening are not bad. Now, where the blockade stance of hard-liners dominated Parliament is well your end, can President Rouhani’s address to his foreign policy, his domestic political promises. Many Iranians hope for economic improvements.

Iran: After the election is before the hoped-for reforms

Many young and well educated people, but that alone is not enough. “Our greatest hope is that we can now bring you more and our problems will be addressed,” says a woman with blonde hair and far in the back of the neck gerutschtem pink head scarf. “If the Parliament wants to represent us, then it must listen to us – and we should also have the freedom to say our opinion openly.” More personal freedoms that many wish for here – an end to the censorship of social media, for example, or the freedom to dress how you want to. And some of it will no longer appear with the newly elected Parliament, at least, is quite impossible: The reformers are represented there, with so many members like for more than ten years. The same is true for the number of women is now at least at 14. One of them is already quoted with the words, the strict Islamic dress codes in the country would be a thing of a day in the past.

The Power of the spiritual remains

A prospect that does not appeal to all here in the Islamic Republic. “We support the Supreme leader”, calls a young man with bushy eyebrows applied and gives his words with decisive Gestures of emphasis. “We expect that the new Parliament adheres to the rules.” Radical changes he rejects – as do many other very religious people in the poor South of the city. The not insignificant conservative part of the population is not the main reason why the development will probably not go as quickly as many other wishes. “The clerics and religious scholars in this country have very much Power,” says political analyst Hasan Mohammadi. “The Parliament and the President alone, can do against these forces.” Social change will remain so even after the election difficult to implement.

Social changes are difficult to implement – believes political analyst Mohammadi

Political changes are, however, by the success of the reformers in the elections as likely as not in a long time. Because also in the expert advice, you now have more of an impact: Some of the most powerful hardliners in the country have not lost their place there – including Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, a supporter of Ex-President Ahmadinejad, had withdrawn shortly before the vote, the IRE of many voters with the remark, that your opinion in the Islamic Republic counting anyway. Other, weakened, as the head of the powerful guardian Council, Ayatollah Jannati, are. Moderate members of the expert Council, such as former President Ali Akbar Rafsanjani and
President Rouhani are strengthened dagegegen. The panel has to do with the current policy, could take in the coming years, but nevertheless a major influence on the future of the country. Because his main task is to choose a new Supreme leader if the Ayatollah dies, Khamenei, or its tasks can no longer perform. And the state of health of the 76-Year-old rumours as to the location for years; he himself has already said that he will not survive the eight-year term of the Council. In this case, the members shall elect a successor to – and very probably from within its own ranks.

The Khatami Factor

A significant proportion of the reformers-so-good election result Ex-President Mohammad Khatami had. The 72-Year-old, during whose presidency Iran had experienced a period of political relaxation, especially among many young Iranians as a kind of folk hero.

Still have a lot of Power in Iran: clerics and religious scholars

Because Iranian media not allowed to report on him, he had called on his supporters on the Internet to go to the polls. With success: “I have long wondered whether I should even vote,” says an art student, was waiting at the Meydane Valiasr on a Bus. Since the so-called “Green Revolution” in 2009, where she was together with her friends in vain for the road gone, she has participated in any vote. Until now: “Khatami has convinced me to participate – to get the hardliners.” And so a photo that is circulating here in Tehran, meanwhile, foreign Minister Zarif, says his American colleague Kerry on the phone: “If Donald Trump with you, there really is a Problem, let me know – I’ll tell our Mohammad, he will send a video message.”