Hossein Mohammadi
We have spoken about the upcoming parliamentary elections with Mohammad Atrianfar, one of the most prominent members of the pragmatist Kargozaran-e Sazandegi political party, near to former president Hashemi Rafsanjani. Below is an excerpt of this interview.
Rooz (R): Given the scope of disqualifications, what is your party's stance toward elections?
Mohammad Atrianfar (MA): We will make a decision with respect to the election in our coalition meetings with fellow reformist groups. Currently, we have to wait a little more for the final results of the Guardian Council's review of candidates. If it is possible to compete in election districts, which top 200 in the country, the Servants of Construction will participate in the elections along with other reformist groups.
(R): What do you think the final outcome of qualifications will be?
(MA): Based on preliminary estimates, we hope to compete in more than 50 percent of districts where races are competitive.
(R): You said it is possible to compete in more than 50 percent of races. This runs counter to figures released by the Mojahedeen-e Enghelab Party or the Participation Front.
(MA): Their figures are computed based on disqualifications by the Ministry of Interior's administrative committees. Some candidates have been able to overturn their disqualification after complaining to the Guardian Council's oversight committees.
(R): Are you saying that we have good news about the qualification of reformist candidates?
(MA): The Ministry of Interior's administrative committees have disqualified an unprecedented number of candidates since the Revolution. In past elections, administrative committees disqualified 3 to 5 percent of the candidates. However, more than 30 percent of candidates were disqualified by the administrative committees this time around. In other words, administrative committees disqualified ten times more candidates this time than they did before! From that number, about 65 to 70 percent are reformists. More importantly, most of the prominent reformist candidates are among them.
(R): Has anyone from inside the government protested these disqualifications?
(MA): Some of the regime's top officials have warned the Guardian Council and oversight committees not to overstep their legal boundaries. These warnings have resulted in reversing the disqualification of several reformist candidates, and we hope for there to be minimal competitive conditions.
(R): Have Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani played a role in negotiations to reverse some decisions?
(MA): Mr. Rafsanjani played the most important role in these negotiations from day one. His efforts have been very effective in qualifying many candidates. However, efforts by Mr. Karoubi and Mr. Khatami have been also helpful.
