by Najmeh Bozorgmehr
In an election that once looked as if it would hand Ahmadinejad a victory in the first round, a sudden enthusiasm has been unleashed by the reformists, leading many analysts to predict that a second round is likely. In Tehran, young people cruise the streets in their cars in the evenings and urge people to vote for Moussavi. Wrapped with green scarves and flags — his campaign colour — they heap ridicule on his rival, Ahmadinejad, criticising his looks, and his humble style of dress, and they dance in the streets in defiance of social bans.
Respected for his handling of the economy in the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, Moussavi is promising Iranians more freedom and more rational economic management. Importantly, he is also backed by Mohammad Khatami, the former reformist president who can still draw massive crowds. Two other candidates are running — Mehdi Karroubi, a former parliament speaker and reformist politician, and Mohsen Rezaei, a conservative former head of the elite Revolutionary Guard.
“Ahmadinejad has angered the middle class by humiliating Iran in the world, blatantly lying about his economic achievements and worrying people about the possibility of becoming poorer,” says Saeed Leylaz, a political analyst. “The middle class has a big and simple target now: Ahmadinejad must go.”
