In an unprecedented show of desperation, Iranian regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei has made several public addresses in recent weeks in an attempt to rally his dwindling base of supporters to participate in the regime’s sham parliamentary elections.
From calling the elections a “miracle” to claiming that they will “solve the country’s problems,” in one of his speeches, Khamenei said, “If there is enthusiastic participation of the people in the elections… science… progress, the economy… flourishes, various cultural, economic, and political problems in the country can be solved; such a miracle requires participation.”
In another meeting with a group of women loyal to the regime, he begged them to “push their children and spouses to actively participate in the elections.”
He once instructed his supporters to consider “elections” as their “main duty” and to organize all the deceptive propaganda of the “interpretation Jihad” around it. Finally, he assigned his entire propaganda apparatus, including radio, television, and state media, the task of “compelling people to participate in the field” and said, “People’s presence in the scene must be promoted, everyone should work in this area… it is everyone’s duty.”
Furthermore, he mobilized all his agents and instructed them to promote the elections through special sessions. He also instructed his Friday prayer leaders to issue fatwas stating that “voting is a religious obligation, like performing the morning prayers.”
Khamenei’s Roadmap
On April 4, 2023, Khamenei’s website publicly announced his roadmap for the March elections this year and had previously stated after the 2022 uprising: “These elections are very important… If the elections are not held properly, it shows the weakness of the country and the weakness of the nation; the weakness of the government, the weakness of officials… and it shows the weakness of the country. The weaker we become, the more the invasion and pressure from our enemies will increase.”
At that time, the regime’s own analysts had acknowledged that the people of Iran no longer have any faith in the solutions within the regime and elections, and as the Etemad newspaper wrote on June 15, 2023, “Society as a whole has moved beyond the issue of elections.”
On January 14, journalist Abbas Abdi, said, “Only 7% of the people are defenders of the current situation.”
On the same day, Rouydad 24 news website quoted another analyst as saying, “These people know that the decorative and ineffective electoral facade lacks meaning and real significance”.
On January 7, Khabar Online quoted MP Mohammad Javad Koulivand, as saying that in the previous election for Alborz Province, “The total number of people who came to the polling stations did not even reach 2% to 3%. What about now?”
This means that widespread participation is a wish that Khamenei will take to the grave.
Khamenei’s unsolvable problems
In the current stage, as we approach the elections, Khamenei’s entire effort is focused on holding the “March elections”, to bypass any uprising or protest and escape the crisis and explosive conditions of society with minimal costs. He aims to navigate the current crisis and volatile societal conditions.
He is also considering using the elections of the Assembly of Experts (the legislative body empowered to appoint the Supreme Leader of Iran) to address and partially pave the way for his succession, which he has referred to as the “most important decision of the past 40 years.” This issue is one of the most complex crises for Khamenei, and he is cautious in managing it to prevent it from becoming a trigger for unrest.
Indeed, during crises and considering the inevitable upcoming uprisings, Khamenei not only needs to consolidate his authority but also strives to prevent the embarrassment of low voter turnout in the elections. Additionally, he must address the issue of his succession. This is just a small glimpse of the unresolved pains that Khamenei faces in the lead-up to the elections.