Ahmadinejad's New Attack on Rouhani in Defense of Subsidy Law

In a fresh attack on Hassan Rouhani's government, former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated that the current administration has "sullied" the cash subsidy plan, has "bottled" the people's money, and is "insulting" them, while some countries provide citizens with 2500 euros in monthly subsidies. In an interview published on Tuesday, April 29, on the 'Mehr Mardom' website, which claims to be the 'information base of the offices of the 9th and 10th governments,' Ahmadinejad launched a new attack on the 11th government while defending the implementation of the targeted subsidy law. He claimed that officials in Rouhani's government believe they are "the owners of the people and the country" and are unwilling to return "the people's money" to them. Ahmadinejad added that the current government has raised the prices of goods and services and is "bottling" the people's money, claiming they want to execute construction projects. The former president criticized the current officials' perspective on the targeted subsidy law, stating they have "insulted the people and made their lives bitter" during its implementation. In response to some arguments suggesting that cash subsidies make people "lazy," he remarked, "There are countries that give 2500 euros in subsidies to each person monthly. Have people in those countries become lazy?" He did not specify which countries he was referring to. Ahmadinejad also questioned how these officials consider themselves above the nation, citing the high number of applicants for cash subsidies in 1393 (2014) as evidence that the public disagrees with the government's reasoning. He told these officials, "You have presented all your arguments, but the nation did not accept your reasoning. You did not give us time to come on TV and talk to the people for five minutes." Continuing his criticism, he asked, "Why do you say you do not accept the targeted subsidy plan? You do not accept the nation, and the nation does not accept you." Ahmadinejad, relying on the high number of applicants for cash subsidies, stated that "the collective spirit of society has accepted it. They still insult us and say it is fostering dependency. What is the government for?" He added, "The salaries you [government officials] receive are given to you by the nation; the nation has paid you and said, 'Come and do my work and be my servant.'" In another part of the interview, he implicitly called Rouhani arrogant, "self-superior," and a "little king," without mentioning his name, while repeating some conservative criticisms of Rouhani over the past four years. Ahmadinejad stated, "97 percent, you used all your social capital, 97 percent said [they want subsidies], yet you still insult us?" He continued, "Why do you insult? Why do you cut people's subsidies? A parliament representative approved it; they approved it without reason; a representative of the nation should speak for the nation." Ahmadinejad also referred to some government officials' statements about budget constraints, saying, "If you have no money, why are you spending eight billion on your swimming pool?" He added ambiguously, without naming anyone, "The swimming pool that the late [Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani] built, what do you want to do with it? Do you want to swim in it? If you have no money, why did you renew all your office vehicles? Why do you change the decor? Why does the inauguration of a dam cost two billion tomans?" This presidential candidate concluded his remarks by labeling the current government's rationale for cutting subsidies for certain groups as a sign of their "selfishness and superiority complex." He said, "Some believe that people should always be weak and submissive for them to be in charge. I do not want to use the phrase 'go to such and such place' like them; who said you must be in charge? Should people not grow so that you can be in charge?" In the past two months, Ahmadinejad has claimed to have broken his four-year silence and announced his intention to respond to criticisms and statements from the 11th government's officials regarding the performance of the 9th and 10th governments. During this time, he has issued several statements and speeches criticizing Hassan Rouhani and the 11th government's performance while defending his own policies and actions. He is among those who have registered to run in the 12th presidential election.