Alireza Alavitabar is a prominent Iranian thinker among reformists. He is a member of ‎the Islamic Iran Participation Front and was the editor of Sobh-e-Emrooz newspaper. ‎Rooz spoke with him about the 2009 Presidential elections and reformist candidates. ‎Here are the details.‎

Rooz (R): There are currently three presidential candidate choices in the reformist camp: ‎seyed Mohammad Khatami, Mehdi Karubi, and Abdollah Nouri. I would like to talk ‎about them. As the ex-President, Khatami seems to enjoy the largest following among ‎reformers. Do you think he is capable of advancing democratic goals?‎

Alireza Alavitabar (AA):Under the current conditions, moving towards democracy is ‎taking place through existing potentials inside the country’s legal power structure. The ‎most that the regime can offer is a pseudo-democracy. The current potentials of the pro-‎democracy forces now do not go beyond this. Reformists can do three things regarding ‎democratic reforms: First, return rationalism to the economy and attain a sort of relative ‎independence from politics. In the long-term this will benefit in moving towards ‎democracy, and the goal has supporters among conservatives and hardliners. Second, ‎democratizing relations within and the organization of the executive branch of ‎government. Third, Making democratic demands and the democratic process as part of ‎the national dialogue and political negotiations within the regime. I think Mr. Khatami is ‎the only person who can mobilize a coalition and organize it so that these three goals are ‎pursued.‎

R: In view of his past 8-year presidential record, do you think Mr. Khatami can ‎accomplish this and present a strong response to the obstacles and problems in this path? ‎Does he have the ability to fight the non-democratic pushes of the regime?‎

AA: To stand against these forces and assertiveness are not related to just personal and ‎psychological issues. Two other issues are important: one are views and opinions. A ‎focused perspective brings about courage. The second are the supporters, i.e. their ‎demands and direction. The larger the supporters and the stronger their assertiveness the ‎larger will be the perseverance of their leaders and politicians. My perception is that how ‎reformist groups and intellectuals behave will play a key role Mr. Khatami’s level of ‎resistance to the un-democratic demands of the hardliners and conservatives. Neutralizing ‎the pressures that Mr. Khatami may face require corresponding pressure.‎

R: Mehdi Karubi is the next candidate. What do you think are his thoughts in entering the ‎race? Do you think he can win the voters?‎

AA: I think that Mr. Karubi believes that the leader of the regime at best can tolerate him ‎only inside the regime, and so any person or group that raises deeper or larger criticism ‎and dissent will not be acceptable. So on one hand he has the sanction of the supreme ‎leader to participate in the presidential race while on the other, because there is no ‎alternative, he thinks dissidents and reformers will have to support him. This translates ‎into an increase of his changes in the race. Now how many votes can he actually muster ‎depends on what his competitors do.‎

R: Abdollah Nouri is the third candidate of the reformists. Do you think his presence is a ‎positive one?‎

AA: If he comes up with a specific plan for creating change in Iran then it is. This will ‎create competition among pro-change and reformists which will raise the level of the ‎internal debate. And it will also formalize the diversity inside this group. In any case his ‎presence in the race will be fruitful if a meaningful difference between what he stands for ‎and others emerges. But if some use Mr. Nouri’s participation to attack other reformers, ‎then his presence will not be helpful.‎

R: Abdollah Nouri’s supporters have announced that even if Mr. Nouri were disqualified ‎to run, they would be pursuing ways to connect him to the social movements and to ‎create a momentum within society. Do you think this is practical?‎

AA: If he is set at the center of a team which presents a clear dialog and presents such an ‎atmosphere, and if he also can create the organization and relations, then one can be ‎hopeful that it will succeed. But if a small group which lacks experience among ‎politicians and is accused of flip flopping tries to do this under the name of Mr. Nouri, ‎then I do not think this is practical. Let’s not forget that the creation or strengthening of a ‎social movement requires the ability to create a dialog and a clear credibility among ‎politicians and social activists.‎