Rooz spoke with prominent politician Gholam Hossein Karbaschi, first secretary of the Kargozaran Sazandegi Party, about the upcoming presidential elections, government of national unity and differences inside his party. Karbaschi, once the famed mayor of Tehran, said that the group that calls itself the Principalists (hardline ideologues supporting the President), have failed and pointed to monopoly of the current administration to be the cause of the present crises in the country. Read on for the conversation.
Rooz: About 2 months ago you raised the idea of a government of national unity, even though Mr. Rafsanjani said that Mr. Nategh Nouri had first raised it. What do you have in mind in view of the two main political groups in the country, i.e. the Principalists and the reformers.?
Gholam Hossein Karbaschi (Karbaschi): The need for a government of national unity has been felt by all sincere individuals. The next government too must put its focus on this, i.e. utilize all potential forces of the country. Soon after the victory of the 1979 revolution and particularly during the war years, all the forces of the country were represented in the administrations, generally known as the leftist group or Khate Imam (those following the views of ayatollah Khomeini). This included the Motalef, Islamic Mojahedin (Mr. Asghar Oladi, Behzad Nabavi included). Even during Mr. Rafsanjani’s administration this pattern was preserved. During Mr. Khatami’s terms traditional right forces were included to a lesser degree. Because of the attitude of the radical Principalist elements with the reformist administration (of President Khatami) that came about after 1997, the administration came to believe that the country must be run by a single faction, thus eliminating other groups. This created all kinds of issues for the ninth (current) administration, purges took place inside the state’s administrative machinery. This monopoly resulted in the need, for the first time in the Islamic republic, to get a vote of confidence for the administration from the Majlis. This type of an administration is unsuitable in Iran today. Even in the United States with over a 200 year history of bipartisanship, when a more moderate force comes to power it does not monopolize power onto itself. Even though victors in an election get more than 50 percent of the votes, they realize that less than 50 percent of the population and eligible voters have in fact voted for them. So, even party governments do not monopolize power in this strict and narrow fashion. This is the reason that I defended the idea of a government of national unity comprises of all the various factions of the political spectrum.
Rooz: How come you did not follow up?
Karbaschi: One reason is the opposition to this from the Principalists. The factions of the leftist movement that believe they would be disfavored because of the Principalists’ opposition to this idea, they too were against it. But personalities in each of the two factions even agree that if a government of national unity cannot be formed, efforts must be made to unite all the political forces in the country.
Rooz: Do you think your preferred candidate, Mr. Karubi, will work for this and do you think he will be accepted by the two factions?
Karbaschi: I think Mr. Karubi and those who support him know that the problems of the country will not be solved without the cooperation of all the sincere groups and forces. So if his group, Hezbe Etemade Melli (Party of National Trust) wins the presidential race in June, he believes that he would need the support of the sincere rightwing groups and the moderates to succeed. I do not think he will find it difficult to create an effective administration that includes all the political factions. This is one of his strengths.
Rooz: Do you think the next presidential elections are special?
Karbaschi: Every election is a step forward from the perspective of the newly found democracy. The ruling regime accepts free elections and their results and the public becomes a better judge of the programs and promises of the candidates. Forces that came to power through claims of being Principalists have failed and even acknowledge that the administration does not carry a perspective on goals and policy. It has said that the administration is like a car that is moving rapidly but lacks a steering wheel. They acknowledge the mismanagement, monopolism, disregard for the views of others, and the elimination of administrators with diverse experience has pushed the country into a crises. Dissatisfaction among the public is at such high levels that even the right desires a different candidate in the upcoming elections as an effort to deny the presidency to its rival.
Rooz: What do you think is the most urgent issue for the next administration?
Karbaschi: The resolution of Iran – US differences and in general the issues with the West and the neighbors, the honorable resolution of the nuclear crises in general and confidence building with the international community in particular instead of a confrontational approach. The unemployment crises is the next issue, which can only be resolved through a fundamental change in production and investment, which is also primarily rooted in the resolution of the issue with the outside world. The other issue is the correction of the quality of state machinery and administration caused by weak professional cadres and experts. An example of this is the dissolution of the management and planning agency.
Rooz: What do you think will be the main political drive of a new reformist administration?
Karbaschi: In addition to the issues that I just mentioned, they will have to institutionalize political activism and legalizing party system elections. If one looks at the thirty years of post-evolutionary Iran, no structure or organization has been created for the purpose of ensuring the public backing and support of political participation. Even the reform administration, despite its efforts, failed to accomplish this.
Rooz: What if the Principalists win?
Karbaschi: Because Principalists never attend to the fundamental structures and close their eyes to reality, as a result of which they only attend to issues that become necessary or vital, it does not appear that they would change anything from the way they are running the country today.
Rooz: What do you think are the demands of the Iranian people today?
Karbaschi: This requires a larger discussion. But in general one can start with a better quality of life. People today want relief from their current daily problems. They want more welfare for themselves and their families. These are part of their economic demands. Statistics and studies show that unemployment in urban areas and battling inflation in large cities take priority that need to be addressed. Addiction and marriage are serious issues for the families and seem to lead their concerns, primarily among the masses. The educated and elite groups demand cultural and political change, things that the masses are less concerned with.
Rooz: If reformers loose the next elections, what would be the reasons?
Karbaschi: The absence of a united front. If that can not be achieved, then at least a common platform and agenda among them would help.
Rooz: On the differences that you have with your own party, the Kargozaran: you support Mr. Karubi’s candidacy for the presidency while the party supports Mr. Khatami. How do you justify your support?
Karbaschi: Such difference in a powerful party where opinions and positions are the results of analysis is not uncommon. This is true in other countries as well. Look at the British Labor Party. Mr. Blair’s position differed from the party and led to the ascent of the other faction. A similar thing happened in the Democratic Party in the US months prior to the elections as we witnessed a battle between two presidential contenders from the same party which to an outsider may have appeared as if the battle was merely between two individuals, as opposed to two different factions and views inside the Democratic Party. In the Republican Party in the US too there were individuals and factions inside it that opposed the policies and views of the Republican president. A candidate within the Republican Party, Colin Powell even supported a Democratic presidential contender. So such political differences are no unhealthy or concerning. A party can have its own domestic competition for the selection of the best. We in Iran need such healthy competition and differences within a constructive political party. The Kargozaran Party has two factions: the left and the reformist. The party opposes the current administration. Each has its own view and its own supporters. But both agree on the need for change.
Rooz: What is the damage to the party because of your break with the party over the presidential candidates?
Karbaschi: First of all I do not have any official capacity in Mr. Karubi’s campaign. Atrianfar too is not the responsible person in Khatami’s campaign. Whatever we are doing now is still in a private capacity. When we discussed a presidential candidate at the party, we wanted to have someone who has the highest chance of success while also prompting the least resistance from the opposing groups. But we could not agree on a single person. Aside Mr. Mousavi (former Prime Minister) who has not yet announced his decision, Mr. Karubi and Mr. Khatami have entered the race. Polls however indicate that the public desire a change and favors Mr. Khatami. At the same time there is a view that the movement that did bring Mr. Khatami to power the first time has been weakened and won’t succeed in a serious social movement. Mr. Khatami himself too lacks the ingredients for an ambitious popular support which is needed in the next elections. And even though he has a large public support, there is no support from an organized civil society to support him. Furthermore, he has not announced a serious political-economic program. Mr. Karubi who on the other does not enjoy the same massive support, has embarked on an ambitious movement to oppose current positions and incumbent. He is viewed as perseverant and effective.
Rooz: Do you see yourself as a possible candidate for the presidency, against Mr. Karubi and Mr. Khatami?
Karbaschi: Some believe that I could engage a part of the silent voters in favor of reformers. I have not yet decided on my candidacy.
