Posted on 12/03/2006 8:31:42 PM PST by BigFinn
Vast majority of Iranian lawmakers vote to move up presidential elections by 18 months, final say on matter up to Ahmadinejad's arch-rival.
Will Ahmadinejad's term be cut short? The Iranian parliament voted on Sunday to unite the presidential elections with the upcoming parliamentary ones, this according to the official Iranian news agency.
The proposal, which passed with a surprising 80 percent majority, may cut the term of sitting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by 18 months.
The bill must still be ratified by the Iranian constitutional committee, which is headed by former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Ahmadinejad's arch-rival, a fact which many see as indicative that the bill will indeed be authorized.
Rafsanjani himself is considered one of the most powerful politicians in Iran and is currently running for a position in the Assembly of Experts, an 86-strong body of ayatollahs who monitor the Iranian Supreme Leader (a position currently held by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei). The Assembly has the power to dismiss the Supreme Leader. Already existing tensions have heightened between Ahmadinejad and Rafsanjani as the latter is pitted directly against Ahmadinejad's spiritual mentor Masbah Yazdi who is also vying for a spot on the Assembly of Experts.
One of the reasons cited in the proposal for bringing the two elections together is cutting the costs brought on by a double election. Opponents to the bill claimed that cutting the president's term is unconstitutional and that parliament's term should be extended to meet the original date for the presidential election.
Maybe they're finally getting tired of Abby Dinnerjacket's antics?
The timeline shortens ...
The mullahs might be scared of his messianic stuff.
Yes. Sorta. Perhaps Iran's band of Saruman lookalikes don't like all the publicity that Mahmoud has been hard at work drumming up for them. Who knows? Maybe Howard Dean will defeat Mahmoud in a landslide 18 months from now.
If they wanted to get rid of him they'd put him on a Russian jet.
This is just what they say it is, procedure.
I guess so!!
I think they are more scared of the USA.
BTTT.
Dont forget he can still run for re-election.
This could also lead to a purge in Iranian politics due to a "Zionist plot that wants to overthrow the ruling party." Just a thought
That's the idea...run the election early, which will solidify his position for longer. He's a wily one.
ping
These guys have a constitution? Who knew?!
Has Stinky been a bad boy?
Could be, yes.
Nothing good happens in Iran as long as the ayatollahs rule.
That's not to say the mullahs haven't appreciated that he's a very dangerous man, a two edged sword that is cutting them as well as the West. Had he kept his mouth shut they'd be marching forward with their nuclear weapons programs with the West's help, and I mean that literally. His sort of populist brinksmanship has torn the mask off prematurely and has Iran in a much poorer position diplomatically than it was before he started his "death to Israel" act. How nuts do you have to be to start worrying even the Russians?
It will be interesting to see who opposes him in the formal election. The vote itself is mostly a charade. The issue will have been decided by then.
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