SOMETHING IS BREWING!

Frontpage of Tehran newspaper E'temād, "Longing for a Debate: The television turned an important political even into an entertainment program." "A half debate, half standardized test."

Two nights ago, the first (of the three scheduled presidential debates orchestrated by the state television) aired. The four-and-a-half hour debate between 8 candidates was simply put a disaster. The candidates were surprised to learn that everything from the set of the debate to its format was designed like a game show (It was actually directed by a famous game-show host!). There were four different stages to this game show. First, each candidate was given three minutes to respond to a variety of questions, then they were all shown a random picture and asked to comment what they see in the picture (is this a therapy session?!), after that each was given a set of multiple choice questions (“is this a standardized test?” one of the candidates asked), and if that were not enough the program ended with a series of true or false series of questions!

Everyone scored a point by attacking Ahmadinejad. Here is a cartoon from the front page of Qanun.  The captions read: "Hunting Mahmoud (Ahmadinejad)! Quarter finals of the presidential race: This guy doesn't have a tribune, go for his eye!"

By the last segment, Mohammad Reza Aref, one of the two broadly-defined reformist candidates, had had enough. He refused to answer multiple choice and true-false questions arguing that “this is not a high school exam!” After the debate, a wave of letters and editorials in the newspapers of competing factions chastised the debates as a cheap show that tried to de-politicize the election by avoiding serious conversations. A number of parliamentarians also called for the Head of the Radio and Television to apologize for making a mockery of the nation’s electoral process.

Meanwhile, the conservative 2+1 coalition (Velayati-Haddad-Qalibaf) announced yesterday that they have officially abandoned efforts to agree on one candidate. All three candidates of the former coalition are now running solo.

Jalili continues to operate as a mystery candidate for those conservatives who once supported Ahmadinejad and then became disillusioned with him, as well as those who defend Ahmadinejad and would like to see the extension of his populist and confrontational policies. Many in Tehran still wonder whether Mr. Jalili is Ahmadinejad’s Trojan horse or not. The influential Tehran university political science professor, Sadeq Ziba-Kalam, called Mr. Jalili “at best, a good associate dean of education for his alma mater Imam Sadeq University” (established by the Revolutionary Guards for the education of its own cadres). 

Jalili is representing himself as the candidate of "resistance!" "We are already behind the enemies tents," he said recently in a campaign speech. 

But the more exciting news comes from the reformists campaign. Both candidates, Aref and Rohani, have upped the rhetoric and now speak more freely and assertively about their reformist credentials. Last night at Jamaran Mosque, Rohani, the only cleric running, sounded openly defiant and called himself a candidate who will continue the political and economic reforms initiated under Rafsanjani and Khatami administrations. He also told a young and rowdy audience that he will not allow a repeat of the 2009 election. “I will protect,” he told his cheering audience, “your votes.” He also declared that he will not allow Mr. Mousavi and Karrubi, the two 2009 presidential election contenders, to remain under house arrest. After his talk, people continue to shout slogans in defense of Mousavi and Karrubi. The police arrested 13 people. One report indicates that they were all released after a few hours. Some bloggers reported that the arrested were members of the youth campaign for Rohani and they were all transferred to Evin prison.

Rohani entering Jamaran Mosque

OK, they won't win the contest for the best fashion show, but Rohani is mobilizing a committed group of young people to generate some excitement on behalf of his campaign. 

"A Key" also symbolizes Rohani's campaign. He is offering a key to resolving the economic problems, as well as a key to open the prison doors. He openly talks about ending the house arrest of Mousavi and Karrubi, the 2009 presidential candidates who have been under house arrest for more than two years now.

Rohani holds the key, does he?

One way we can gauge the changes is the rapidly increasing involvement of women in the campaign. Rohani has chosen the color purple for his campaign and one can see suddenly many purple ornaments hanging from people’s attire on the streets, especially women.

Women at a Rohani campaign speech. Rohani, the only cleric running for presidency, has been able to mobilize women groups better that his opponents.

Purple is the color! Is there going to be a purple movement?

As much as Rohani believes he holds the key to solving numerous political and economic problems in the country, he should also be conscious of the fact that women hold the key to any possibility of his success in the election.

Women know that who the president is makes a distinct difference in the way they are allowed to appear in public. 

Qalibaf also tries to appeal specifically to women. In all his campaign stops, there are significant number of women cheering for him. 

Women students welcoming Qalibaf at Amol University campus. The poster reads: "With you one can enter the sea!" (an expression in Farsi meaning that we will stand by you in your efforts). It would be interesting to see how would these women do this on the segregated beaches of Caspian Sea!

Qalibaf campaign poster. "We believe that a society is successful when it is able to pay attention to its human capital and allow women to enter all dimensions of social life. To be woman or a man must not create a limitation for any one. We must see which member of society is better and more effective."

Mr. Aref also rode the metro to Tehran’s old Bazaar. He was cheered by fellow passengers and welcomed by hundreds of Bazaar merchants, who traditionally support more conservative factions in the government. A number of merchants were also arrested after Aref’s visit, but released after a few hours.

Aref entering the metro station. You can see that he has paid his fair. Metro in Tehran is heavily subsidized. A single ride costs only a quarter.

Metro rides in Tehran are not for the faint-hearted, especially if you are running for the presidency and eager citizens question you on your ride!

With god's grace, the new metro cars in Tehran are air conditioned!

Yes, women can ride with men on the same car, but there are also women only cars for those who prefer the segregated space. Metro now is also a bustling space for women's businesses. Women vendors sell all kinds of things particularly in women only cars.

The public transportation etiquette in Iran is that younger people should offer their seats to the elderly. Aref is trying to persuade the young man that he is not that old despite his silver hair!

No, this is not a rally. People just exiting the metro station at Tehran Bazaar.

How many kisses on the cheek a presidential candidate can take?

Suddenly, from being thrown out of the race by Rafsanjani’s disqualification, the reformists see the possibility of an opening. If they are successful in forming a coalition with one candidate, then they might as well be able to take the election into a second round and a possible upset victory. That is hopeful thinking, but now that kind of hope does not seem totally baseless.