Honeymooning With All Factions

Rooz Online

While it is true that the president represents all Iranians, including those who did not vote for him or those who perpetually undermining his policies. But trying to satisfy all factions and groups is not only meaningless but also doable.

Hassan Rouhani’s story is turning into a situation in which he has to honeymoon with everyone consequently dissatisfying all of them. Contrary to what the government spokesperson on Wednesday said after a cabinet session in response to a letter by Majlis representative Ali Motahari which called the house arrest of the leaders of the Green Movement “illegal”, Rouhani said he was after “calming” the atmosphere in the country to “satisfy all groups.”

But this strategy of pleasing all is now harmful. The president’s media and PR advisors should stop being diplomatic and considerate and inform the president of all the obstructions that are taking place to his policies and views so that he has a better picture of where he is going.

The reality will show him that even if there is a honeymoon between the administration and the extremist political faction in the country, it is only at the level of ceremonial formalities, and that too dictated from above. It should be noted that while other conservative factions did not create obstacles for the administration in the beginning, they have had no reservations in undermining it whenever the opportunity to do arose.

These two – the extremists and the conservatists – have only pursued different strategies for the same goal, which is none other than defeating the administration or may be even removing it from office before its term expires.

As we move forward and the middle term goals of hardliners becomes less attainable, this alliance will strengthen, despite the differences between their factions. The totalitarian nature of these two movements – extremists and conservatists – will become a greater and more serious issue as supporters of the administration diminish and the criticism of Rouhani voters moves outside the private settings into the open. They will be more vocal and open as the midterm of Rouhani’s presidency approaches.

Rouhani needs to be aware that official polls may not reflect true sentiments of the masses, just as the election polls different from what ultimately turned out at the voting booths. Realities in the field indicate that the 60 percent support that Rouhani is said to enjoy may be more poll making than a reflection of people’s actual views. The general trend of political groups and elected officials indicates that the trend is usually in the direction of more drop offs rather than growth in the number of supporters. This is unlikely to change as many of Rouhani’s initial supporters have already joined his opponents or at the least joined the critics.

The president needs to be appreciative of his critics as they are better than his ignorant or unwise supporters. And while he spoke against sycophancy at Tehran University last week his administration must promote the same throughout the country and all sections of the population so that the media and writers comfortably present the true feelings and wishes of people without fear of arrest, harassment or punishment.

To summarize this, the honeymoon of the administration with some of those who voted for him is over. Any unwise steps and actions now can result in irreparable consequences and bring about despair among the wider majority.

Perhaps conditions do not allow the majority of people to speak their hearts, but what they say on the streets, in taxi cabs, or the metro is similar to what some of his sincere supporters, such as Ali Motahari and his letter, have been saying:

“According to article 113 of the Constitution, the president is responsible for the implementation of the constitution and if any of the two other branches violate the constitution, he can at the least use the support of people to warn it or give it notice and public opinion will then do its share.”

“The constitution is to be implemented and not kept in a glass cabinet.”