Iran

Iran: Comeback of a Hardliner?

For years it was quiet around him, but now Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is back. Always sharper, he criticized the course of President Rouhani. And he’s planning his re-candidacy for the next elections in 2017.

As Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2013, was not allowed to stand as a candidate after two terms of office for the Iranian President, and by the moderate cleric Hassan Rouhani was replaced, went a collective sigh of Relief through the world. Too much of the hard-liners had hardened the fronts between Iran and the International community of States. The nuclear dispute was in a cul-de-SAC, Tehran, was politically isolated Iran economically on the ground. And Ahmadinejad struck again and again by the rhetorical poison arrows against the West and Israel. Also domestically, he was controversial, his re-election in 2009, mass protests and electoral fraud allegations. In 2013, after the landslide victory of Hassan Rowhani’s more, it should be final.

The policy, said Ahmadinejad himself, he wanted to return henceforth to the back, only as a University lecturer to work. Even in the last days of his term of office, all the Soft tracks for: the Supreme Council of the cultural revolution granted him permission to establish a University in Tehran. But then the plans failed due to the lack of funds. And the Ex-President could not leave then, but of the policy. The Supreme leader of the revolution Ali Khamenei, gave him a Post in the arbitration Council, a body designed to mediate disputes between Parliament and the powerful guardian Council.

Performances against the nuclear deal

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s University career was not of long duration

Then it was noticeably quiet around the former provocateur. For years he held back. But since some weeks he is back, touring the province and held the last of several public Speeches. Acclaimed by his followers, he further in particular, against the nuclear deal of Iran with the International community. “In these performances, he has criticized the government of Rowhani’s sharp,” says the Berlin-based Iranian-born journalist Bahman Nirumand. “He said that the Islamic Republic is on a wrong path, the principles of the Revolution were betrayed, and Rohani will be leading the country astray.”

That Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is reporting just now again, is likely to be a coincidence. In the spring of 2017 will be elected in Iran, a new President. Observers believe that Ahmadinejad back for another term in the position. His former government spokesman is said to have submitted a request to the competent electoral body. In addition, a great return campaign is scheduled, reported a few days ago, the daily newspaper “Schargh”. Just after your
Defeat in the parliamentary elections this spring, the hardliners are looking for a strong workhorse for your next ballot. Some of them believe to have this in your former President found.

Economic Stagnation as an opportunity?

Economically, many of the Iranians in spite of the recent abolition of some sanctions still bad

In fact, the frustration rising in Iran against the current government. Many Iranians had placed great hopes on it, that would improve the lifting of sanctions and their economic Situation. “But that has not happened,” said Nirumand. “All contracts made by Iran with Western investors, get no farther, because
the banks are not willing to accept the financing.” Because there is still a whole series of penalties is in force. Only last week, the U.S. state Department published an annual report, in which Iran as the biggest state supporter of global terrorism. “All of this is reported in Iran, especially in the conservative press. And the leader of the revolution, Khamenei had repeatedly warned not to trust the US too much: ‘Even if we do everything the Americans want, they still want anything else.’ And this is confirmed now according to the Right,” says Bahman Nirumand, on behalf of the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation’s monthly Iran Report. Apparently, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad believes that the disillusionment in the country to benefit.

Mixed Record

Under Ahmadinejad, Inflation record achieved values of over 30 percent

Here, there is little reason to believe that it could go with Iran under a renewed presidency of Ahmadinejad better. “His record as President is abysmal,” said Nirumand. “He has ruined the economy, although the Oil revenues were mainly in the first four years of his presidency, unusually high.” Around 200 billion US dollars to
in unknown channels, seeps. Moreover, Ahmadinejad, who had taken political office in 2005 with the promise to create millions of new Jobs and to reduce the inflation rate of the local Rial. Both of which was unsuccessful –
on the contrary. Due to the international sanctions, but also by the large mismanagement in the government of Iran in 2013 was mired in a deep recession, increased inflation rate within his term of office, to over 30 percent, the unemployment rate stagnated at twelve percent. These are official data – the actual values are likely to be even worse.

Chances of re-election?

Thinks nothing of re-candidacy of Ahmadinejad: Iran’s Parliament speaker Ali Larijani

This is also the reason why the Iranians even see his potential political Comeback with mixed feelings. “He has, especially in the province of many supporters,” explains Bahman Nirumand. “On the other hand, many Conservatives have even in the Parliament and also the public already against him.” Among other things, President of the Parliament, Ali Larijani, once Ahmadinejad’s chief nuclear negotiator, but today is a declared opponent of the Ex-President. “For the Iranians it would not be an attractive idea that someone, after two straight successful terms of office commencing again in the presidential election in 2017,” said Larijani. “Leader of the revolution Khamenei has supported Ahmadinejad in the first four years, but after that, there were big differences between the two,” says Bahman Nirumand. “That’s why I can’t imagine that he is actually re-elected the President. If it is, then that would mean a complete inside – and foreign policy change of course, and that would be for the whole country is a disaster,” the Iran expert. “But I don’t believe in.”