IRAN: Doesn’t feel like election season

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Nearly three years ago during the heated 2005 presidential elections, cars full of brochures and CDs promoting the presidential candidates roamed the streets. Campaigners handed out leaflets from the trunks of cars to passersby.

Both sides of Tehran’s Vali Asr Street turned into impromptu soapboxes, like Hyde Park in London. Students would argue: to vote or not to vote, and whom to vote for?

It’s a different scene now. In the last few days before Friday’s parliamentary elections, people occasionally rip up the leaflets as soon as they are handed out, and no one is debating anything on the streets.

At Fatemi Square, dozens of young women handed out CDs and leaflets for reformist candidates. None seemed too enthusiastic.

‘I am political science student ... and because one of our professors is reform–minded, we are helping the reform campaign,’ said one student, cutting the conversation short when asked why anyone should vote for her list of candidates. ‘We are not allowed to debate with people. We are here to hand out leaflets and CDs.’

Reformers attribute their lackluster campaign to the vast disqualifications of their candidates by the Guardians Council. But critics contend that the reformers’ platform is vague and that it remains unclear to whom they’re trying to appeal.

A little bit down the road a young man handed out leaflets for hard-line candidates. He wasn’t too enthused either. He said he was being paid to work the streets.

‘As the old saying goes, ‘A cat does not catch mice free of charge,’ ‘ he said.

Will he vote for the hard-liners?

‘You’re kidding?’ he said. ‘I am not paid for voting.’

— Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran