New Iranian President Elected

[TheCommandTent]

DUBAI (Reuters) - Moderate cleric Hassan Rohani won Iran's presidential election on Saturday with a resounding defeat of conservative hardliners, calling it a victory of moderation over extremism and pledging a new tone of respect in international affairs.

Though thousands of jubilant Iranians poured onto the streets in celebration of the victory, the outcome will not soon transform Iran's tense relations with the West, resolve the row over its nuclear program or lessen its support of Syria's president in the civil war there - matters of national security that remain the domain of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

But the president runs the economy and wields broad influence in decision-making in other spheres. Rohani's resounding mandate could provide latitude for a diplomatic thaw with the West and more social freedoms at home after eight years of belligerence and repression under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was legally barred from seeking a third consecutive term.

"This victory is a victory of wisdom, a victory of moderation, a victory of growth and awareness and a victory of commitment over extremism and ill-temper," Rohani told state television, promising to work for all Iranians, including the hardline so-called "Principlists" whom he defeated at the poll.

http://news.yahoo.com/moderate-cleric-rohani-leads-early-iran-election-results-041815947.html


I am not going to hold my breathe to see any changes.

[mirth]

Here's hoping he lives long enough to try to make a change or two.

[Martok]

I am not going to hold my breathe to see any changes.

Nor I, although I obviously wouldn't mind being proved wrong. 

[MetalDog]

From the little bit that I can glean, the average Iranian wants much the same thing we do: peace, security and access to things that make life worth living.  I'm hoping this display by the voters bears that out and the new President will be able to start moving his society closer to joining the world community.

[Staggerwing]

The problem is that, no matter what reform laws are passed or who gets posted to what gov't post, the Alpha Mullahs on the supreme council have 100% authority to overturn anything they want and they have the Revolutionary Guard to back them up.

[MetalDog]

That's true.  But if the people realize that numbers make up for the government power they lack and throw the bastards out, it'll be a great day!

[mirth]

That's true.  But if the people realize that numbers make up for the government power they lack and throw the bastards out, it'll be a great day!

And there's a precedent for it happening in Iran.

[LongBlade]

Calling Iranian politicians moderate is about as accurate as calling Star celibate.

[GDS_Starfury]

indeed.

[mirth]

^look who finally woke up!

[GDS_Starfury]

its been a busy weekend.

[pawelj]

Rohani is a cleric. That makes him a loon in my book. Before him clerics Rafsanjani and Khatami were also "reformist" presidents. It made no difference. For all we know it is a bit of clever charade to keep the Iranian people and the idiot Western journalists and politicians fooled that some political evolution is possible, but keep the power firmly in the hands of the mullahs.

[Martok]

Quite frankly, I've leaned toward that view for years now.