{"id":319393,"date":"2024-05-14T07:10:28","date_gmt":"2024-05-14T06:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=319393"},"modified":"2024-05-14T08:13:21","modified_gmt":"2024-05-14T07:13:21","slug":"irans-state-media-confirms-92-said-no-to-regime-in-second-round-of-sham-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-election\/irans-state-media-confirms-92-said-no-to-regime-in-second-round-of-sham-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran’s State Media Confirms 92% Said \u201cNo\u201d to Regime in Second Round of Sham Elections"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Iranian regime’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi casts his vote on May 10, 2024- The slogan on the poster on the wall reads, “The election is the embodiment of a political epic”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Four-minute read<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

The second round of sham parliamentary elections in Iran has brought to light a critical predicament within the regime, one that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had fervently tried to overcome by sidelining disobedient officials and purifying his dwindling authority. However, it proved to be a resounding failure. After decades of governance built upon propaganda and carefully crafted narratives, state media and officials now find themselves forced to admit not only the political, social, and economic challenges but also the grave crisis of legitimacy their regime is facing.<\/span><\/p>\n

For decades, Iranian resistance has asserted that the regime lacks popular support and maintains power through repression and torture. The uprisings of the Iranian people since 2017 have underscored the regime’s unpopularity. Particularly during the 2022 uprising, it became evident that Iranians desire the overthrow of the entire regime and the establishment of a democratic republic. One of the primary slogans of the uprising was “Death to the oppressor, be it the Shah or the leader”. The volatile state of Iranian society and widespread disdain for the regime have escalated to the extent that even the regime’s staunchest allies recognize the absence of public participation in elections, as well as the regime’s deceptive propaganda regarding voter turnout.<\/p>\n

In the second round of sham parliamentary elections the regime’s initial recourse to its traditional playbook fell short. Ahmad Vahidi, Minister of Interior in Ebrahim Raisi’s cabinet, took to X (formerly Twitter) at the conclusion of the election proceedings, stating on Saturday, “The second stage of the elections has drawn to a close. Thanks to God, the people have forged an epic. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the honorable citizens. I also express my appreciation to my colleagues in the Ministry of Interior, the security and law enforcement agencies, the Guardian Council, and popular election monitors.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The latter has stirred strong reactions within the regime. Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi, the Minister of Communications in Hassan Rouhani’s government, <\/span>stated<\/span><\/a>: “By ‘epic,’ the Minister of Interior refers to the 92% voter abstention in Tehran.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hesamoddin Ashna, an advisor to Hassan Rouhani, also wrote <\/span>on his X account<\/span><\/a>, “If we consider this level of participation an ‘epic,’ then we have deprived ourselves and the government of the necessity to critically assess the current situation.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Abdolnasser Hemati, former governor of the Central Bank, <\/span>commented on X<\/span><\/a>, saying: “Does the Minister of Interior’s characterization of the recent elections as an “epic” and considering the representation of the parliament with 3 to 5 percent of the people’s votes as “acceptable” imply that they are seeking a more “acceptable epic” for the 2025 [presidential] elections?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Reza Rashidpour, a former moderator on state television who has distanced himself from the media for several years, <\/span>reacted<\/span><\/a>, “It is an honor for all of us that the esteemed Minister of the Interior understands the concept of ‘epic’.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hours after witnessing widespread reactions to his tweet, Ahmad Vahidi was forced to delete the post. However, the reactions in state media outlets went far beyond a mere stance taken against the Minister of Interior.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

#Iran<\/a>\u2019s Second Sham #Elections<\/a>: Officials Clash for Power Amidst Public Push for Changehttps:\/\/t.co\/AijLQT8qvj<\/a><\/p>\n

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 11, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n