Tudeh Party of Iran:

The chasm between the people and the theocratic dictatorship cannot be bridged by an "honest" candidate and fraudulent votes in a sham election...

(Translated Excerpts from the Editorial of Nameh Mardom, issue no. 1210, published Monday 17June 2024)

The chasm between the people and the theocratic dictatorship cannot be bridged by an "honest" candidate and fraudulent votes in a sham election.

The death of President Raisi, an ardent devotee of the theocratic regime; the continual failures in the project to "homogenise the regime"; the ever-widening gap between the majority of the populace and the regime; and the increasing instability of the "regime" as a whole, has made it even more imperative for the regime to appoint another [pliant] pawn. The ruling dictatorship, recognising the importance of selecting a successor to the [aging and ailing] "Supreme Religious Leader", the [ultimate] axis of power in the "ruling theocracy", sooner rather than later, has considered a calculated mix of electoral candidates [for the presidency].

The theocratic dictatorship, and particularly Ali Khamenei ["Supreme Religious Leader"], have now been forced into feigning acceptance of some form of "change" after suffering numerous blows from the people in recent years. However, it is unlikely that the regime will be able to change its extremely negative image in the eyes of the majority of[Iranian] society without actually accepting [and implementing] any of the people's fundamental demands for freedom and justice. Undoubtedly, the inclusion of Masoud Pezeshkian's name on the list of [vetted] candidates approved by the "Supreme Leader" is a calculated ploy to conjure a superficial and cosmetic change [to placate the restive population], without materially affecting the power structure predicated on "Political Islam".

As anticipated, the main currentsof the reformist faction within the regime's ranks have announced that they will participate in the farcical election charade by voting for Pezeshkian. Their rationalerepresents nothing more than a clinging to the false hope of reviving the failed project [and expired mantra] of "building trust with the regime".

To accept the argument that the regime's "approval" of Pezeshkian as an "honest" candidate indicates a retreat or material change in the "hard core of political power" in Iran is, at best, simplistic and a divergence from reality and, at worst, an attempt to deceive the public into buying the claim that the theocratic regime is somehow reformable, thereby reviving what is left of the credibility of the "Supreme Leader". Once again, in order to counter the dangers arising from the deepening and unbridgeable gap between the people and the theocratic regime, Khamenei and his cronies have managed to use the reformists as an instrument at their disposal by bringing Pezeshkian to the forefront [of the regime's executive]. Dragging people into yet another sham election is a repetitive and worn-out move that should be exposed at the level of society for what it is, and its effect should be neutralised by campaigning for an effective [comprehensive] boycott of the vote.

The goal of Khamenei, the governing institutions and all political factions within the "regime" is to avert the threat posed by the deep and wideningchasm between the people and the ruling dictatorship - one that has its roots in the widespread injustice inflicted on a society that is deeply divided along the lines of class interests, as well as the suppression of social and individual freedoms.

Keeping in mind the reality that the theocratic dictatorship has never backed down, and will never do so,in the face of the people's righteous demands, the meaning of the regime's repeated imploring of the people for widespread participation in the elections becomes clear; people are being urged to align with the ruling dictatorship for the sake of country and their own interests,supposedly because the dictator (Khamenei, the "hard core of power") is willing to back down. Their only evidence, worthless at that,[to support that supposition] is that the "Supreme Religious Leader" has approved the candidacy of Pezeshkian and that he is an "uncorrupted and modest"character, thereforepeople should endeavour to have him appointed as president by participating in another round of sham elections!

It is noteworthy that this "approval" rests on an individual widely recognised by a significant portion of the population to be at the head of a hugely unpopular political system presiding over a deeply unjust economy and ruling through repression, deception, and the exploiting of ordinary people's religious beliefs. Therefore, the issues of "approval" by the dictator and the call to support Pezeshkian are highly dubious. Inviting people to participate in sham elections under the pretext of defending national interests or the "approval" of Pezeshkian reflects an approach that disregards the harsh realities faced by hardworking peoplein Iran and wholly unconcerned with the true nature or performance [track record] of the Islamist regime.

The regime's propaganda apparatus is undoubtedly targeting a segment of the desperate masses who are struggling under the weight of economic pressures and also weary of the empty promises and propaganda of the monarchist pseudo-opposition [abroad]. The regime is trying to encourage those sections of the population that, owing to the lack of effective organisational and political structures or hope for a bright future, might pay some attention to the candidates' campaigns gimmickry and empty promises based on simplistic analyses in the hope of alleviating their overwhelming concerns and pressures, to participate in these elections. However, what is clear now is that these tactics cannot reduce the deep and wide gap between the people and the regime. After the elections, no matter who becomes the president-select of the "Supreme Leader", no significant benefit will accrue to the people in terms of domestic and foreign policies.

Therefore, as far as the status of the "core power" or the absolute rule of the "Supreme Leader" is concerned, everything will continue to be the same as it has been. The characterof the next president's tenure, after the show election, will also be dictated by Khamenei's order to continue the "general plans of the regime" - a blueprint/vision that founds its ultimate expression and final embodiment in the administration of the "people's martyred president (Raisi)".

The Tudeh Party of Iran believes that the theocratic dictatorship is in an unstable, fragile, and vulnerable position in the face of the [Iranian] people. The theoretical foundations of "Political Islam" are collapsing and this regime is unable to revive its lost social base. The regime is futilely attempting to reduce the wide gap between the masses and the theocratic dictatorship through election engineering and cosmetic measures. By boycotting the upcoming show election, another significant blow can be inflicted on the ruling dictatorship.

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For the statements of the Tudeh Party of Iran and its analysis of major developments in Iran Please visit:    www.tudehpartyiran.org