Aref Calls for Rouhani to Consult Reformists for Cabinet Formation

The head of the Reformist Policy Council, Mohammad Reza Aref, stated that Hassan Rouhani's victory in the twelfth presidential election is "owed to the reformists" and expressed expectations that he would "consult" with the Reformist Policy Council for the formation of the new cabinet. According to a report on Thursday, July 22, from ILNA news agency, Aref made these remarks during a brainstorming session of the Reformist Policy Council with reformist councils across the country. Aref added that reformists are not seeking "shares" from Rouhani, but since "there is no doubt that Rouhani's victory is owed to the reformists, our request at the threshold of forming the twelfth government is cooperation and coordination with the Hope faction." He further stated, "We will not seek any shares. Our expectation from Rouhani is to consult with the Reformist Policy Council." According to ISNA from this meeting, Aref continued with a hint at Rouhani, saying, "Some people win and forget who worked for them, and I have this grievance." He added, "If they do not send us after black-eyed peas, our intention is to help and continue the path." This reformist figure defended the performance of the Reformist Policy Council in compiling the list of candidates supported by reformists in the city and village council elections and supporting Hassan Rouhani in the presidential elections, stating that "the election results were not coincidental." Aref defended the list supported by this council for the council elections in Tehran, which caused many disputes within the reformist movement, saying, "We compiled the list based on the Reformist Policy Council; this step was important for us, and if we had not won, we would have gone back to before 2013." The head of the Reformist Policy Council also criticized what he called the "onslaught" of some media against this council and expressed hope that one day he would not be "forced" to "reveal these motivations." He added, "Until recently, the onslaught was against individuals, which was not important, but now it is against the movement; they even labeled us as dictators. We said we welcome criticism; I told friends that my house is open to you, why should we discourse in cyberspace?" Aref's remarks today faced a strong and unprecedented reaction from the Entekhab website, which supports Hassan Rouhani. This website wrote, "Aref does not give up, the same person who became important amid the drought of prominent figures in recent years due to the withdrawal or sidelining of some main figures in the reform movement." Entekhab added that Aref "now believes after the elections that Rouhani owes him and the so-called reformist council and is seeking shares." This website introduced the Reformist Policy Council as "a group and a small circle" whose "existence is destructive and causes division and conflict among reformists." Previously, some reformist figures had called for new changes in Rouhani's second government. Youthfulness and the inclusion of women are their main demands. Before the presidential election, some reformists had also criticized the performance of the economic team of the eleventh government. In this context, during the second round of parliamentary elections, there were verbal tensions between conservatives and reformists, with the electoral arrangement of 96 showing the unity of reformists and the fragmentation of conservatives. Reformist representatives invited to a "withdrawal campaign" aimed at a unified electoral list.