Hossein Mohammadi
Mohammadi1363@gmail.com
Rooz has interviewed Mohammad Atrianfar, member of the central committee of the Hezbe Kargozarane Sazandegi Iran (HKSI, ie Servants of Construction political party, comprising of technocrats aligned with Hashemi Rafsanjani and leaning toward reformists) following the party's first general convention. Here is the text of the interview.
Rooz (R): Mr. Atrianfar, this is the HKSI's first general convention since the party's founding. What was the reason for holding a convention at this time and what issues were discussed?
Mohammad Atrianfar (MA): For a while our staff in provincial cities requested to have a meeting with the central committee. In light of our nation's conditions, the convention was held at the present time and various issues were discussed. Among these issues was the election. Several of the country's prominent political figures participated in this convention as guests. Two economic and political panels also were discussed at the convention.
R: The election was certainly discussed in the convention. Who does the HKSI support in next year’s presidential elections?
MA: We did not discuss the candidates. Rather, most of our discussion revolved around the country's special conditions and the approach of reformists in the election. In any case, the discussion is over strategies and tactics that reformists must employ in the election in order to form a coalition around one candidate.
R: What happens if they don't? For example, between masseurs Khatami and Karoubi, who are you leaning toward?
MA: That is impossible. Is it even possible that both of them will run simultaneously? At the same time, is it even possible that reformists do not form a coalition?
R: Why isn't it possible? It happened during the 2005 presidential election.
MA: That is different. The conditions of those days were completely different than today's.
R: What is the difference?
MA: There was no mechanism in place to reach common strategies and tactics at that time. Without going through the steps involved in forming a coalition, reformists broke into groups each following a different candidate. In this election, however, reformists are fully determined to form a coalition, meaning that right now the discussion is over how affairs must be conducted so that reformists participate in the election with one candidate. Therefore, the main conversation in meetings held by reformists and other meetings is that we must definitely form a coalition.
R: And who are your candidates?
MA: Currently, out of the seven or eight people who have shown interest in candidacy, our first choice is Mr. Khatami followed by Mr. Karoubi.
R: Mr. Atrianfar, you met last week with Mr. Nouri. Was that meeting to discuss election issues?
MA: That meeting was in continuation of meetings that we consistently have had with Mr. Nouri. Although some friends have suggested Mr. Nouri, at this time we do not see any kind of interest in him for running in the election. He is one of the people who are more widely revered and has high capabilities. At this time, however, we do not see that interest in him.
