Editorial
Elections in Iran
We hope that the matter can be resolved peaceably and constitutionally
THE dust has yet to settle in the aftermath of the presidential election held in Iran this week. Incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been declared the official winner of the race with over 63 percent of the vote.
However, his principal challenger, ex-prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi, has now officially contested the results, and has been joined in his rejection of the results by another candidate, two-time parliament speaker, Mehdi Karroubi.
We cannot say whether the results really do reflect the wishes of the Iranian voters, as claimed by the supporters of the president, or whether the elections were rigged, as alleged by those protesting the election. In the first place, the landslide victory belies the predictions of most experts, who had been suggesting that the vote was likely to be a close one. Indeed, prior to election day, the informed speculation had been that a second round of voting might be needed as it was expected that no single candidate would reach the 50% mark.
In addition, the fact that the results were announced in a hurried manner has raised some questions. Early returns had suggested a close race, with Mousavi ahead by some counts, when the final results were suddenly announced, and Ahmadinejad declared the winner. The fact that the results were also announced all at once, rather than province by province did not also escape the notice of keen observers.
These were crucial elections for Iran. It is thus all the more important that the results enjoy a full measure of credibility, not just outside Iran, but, more vitally, inside the country as well. At present, questions have been raised about the transparency of the procedure; the authorities must, therefore, address the grievances with respect and seek to defuse tensions.
It is regrettable that the protesters are being met with violence, and that many of those who have been vocal in criticism of the election have been detained. We strongly feel that these are not measures that a government should take against its own people.
Our best wishes and highest hopes are with the Iranian people. We hope very much that violence will be eschewed by all sides and the controversy resolved in a constitutional and peaceable manner.
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