PLS

Drew

140
Mann
A48714195
February 29, 2016

Current Events Journal #2

Source: (2016, Feb 28) Reformists win in Tehran Province as Iran awaits election results
In Iran they are currently having their election for their new supreme leader. The
current president is very old and rumored to be ill. Life in Iran under current President
Ayatollah Alo Khamenei has been very rough and the people are not happy with how
the state of the nation is right now. It is said that parliament in office right now is the best
ever elected in this country and things are on the up swing. Results for running
candidate who is the favorite of the people swept by reformists and moderates in all 30
parliamentary seats. It is early but the Assembly of Experts, a crucial part of the
reformists who play a big role in the election also almost unanimously voted for
Rouhani.
Under Rouhani the people of Iran feel that things can be turned around and they
can get the country back to a civilized run state. He passed a nuclear deal limiting the
countries nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. This was a big step in his
run for office and he says being elected the new president he will continue to pass his
agenda to help the state of Iran. One of the bigger platforms he is running under is
increasing economic and political dignity, and funding nonprofit organizations to help
build relation between Americans and Iranians. Youth unemployment and
underemployment has been very big issues under the current leader and Rouhani
wants to make a difference when he gets to office. A big problem that people think they
can face in the influence in the West and how they can have foreign interference in the
election. Like we learned in class many countries have the front of a democracy but
really the election is not run with a fair level playing field. They use election fraud and
use their power to persuade people to vote a certain way even if thats not what they
want. It has been happening for years. For example like in Mexico under the reign of
Chavez. People would do anything to have a democracy and vote for a leader they
approve, but because of their cartel connection and influence in the country they made it

so they would stay in power for as long as possible. This kind of case was also seen in
Russia under the rule of Vladimir Putin. When his term as leader was over he took the
back seat and became the prime minister. He elected to have someone become the
new leader who he knew he could still control and make happened what he wants. In
the case of Iran they are accusing some reformists of selling out to the west because of
their fear of their foreign power and ability to interfere with the election.