Broujerdi: Ahmadinejad's Group Activities in Elections Are Not Serious

The head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament confirmed that the entry of a candidate from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's 'faction' into the presidential elections would increase 'electoral enthusiasm', but stated that the activities of this group in the elections are 'not serious'. Aladdin Broujerdi, the head of this commission, said in an interview with the website of the Parliament, House of the Nation, that Ahmadinejad's supporters 'should be happy that someone from this faction has entered the election arena'. He emphasized that if one person from Ahmadinejad's 'faction' is approved to run in the presidential elections, 'they may have a small and limited vote basket, but this will definitely add to the electoral enthusiasm'. Broujerdi also responded to a question about 'circumventing' the Supreme Leader's directive regarding Ahmadinejad not running and the candidacy of Hamid Baghaei for a project known as 'Medvedev-Putin', stating that 'these actions and movements are not very serious in the electoral arena and one could say that it is not a fault for the youth to have dreams'. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei confirmed on September 27, 2016, that he had told Ahmadinejad that 'it is not advisable' for him to participate in the upcoming elections. However, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a statement supporting Baghaei's candidacy, declared that he is 'determined' to perform his 'political and social duties' in a way that, unlike in 2013, 'qualified individuals' are not excluded from the 'circle of selection'. Meanwhile, Nasser Imani, a principlist figure, stated in an interview that Ahmadinejad's support for Baghaei is 'explicitly contrary to the Leader's advice, as it polarizes the electoral atmosphere'. Baghaei has announced that if he wins the presidential election, he will ask Ahmadinejad to be present 'at the highest level' of his government. Some analysts consider Baghaei's candidacy in 2017 to be a mimicry of the 'Medvedev-Putin' model in Russia, meaning that with Baghaei's victory, Ahmadinejad would become the first vice president. Broujerdi also described Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei's comments about creating a 'dangerous polarization' if Baghaei's candidacy is rejected as 'mistaken and exaggerated'. He added, 'Prominent and experienced individuals have sometimes been disqualified in elections, and the system has a structure and Guardian Council, and individuals know for what issues and topics they are disqualified, and there is no need to bring these issues to the public level.' Mashaei, Ahmadinejad's chief of staff during his presidency, stated that there is 'no reason' for Baghaei's disqualification, and if he is disqualified, 'a dangerous polarization will be formed'. Baghaei, known as one of Ahmadinejad's closest allies, was arrested last June on charges of 'embezzlement' and was released in January of the following year. Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesman for the Iranian judiciary, explained that Baghaei's case is still open, but this alone will not lead to his disqualification, and he may have an open case and the Guardian Council may approve him. In recent days, Ahmadinejad's remarks in Ahvaz have sparked criticism. While some of Ahmadinejad's close associates, including Ali Akbar Javanfekr, have identified Hassan Rouhani as the addressee of these remarks, some principlist figures, including Mohsen Rezaei, believe that the addressee of these remarks is the Supreme Leader. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former president of Iran, said in a speech in Ahvaz on March 22, 'Those who think the nation does not understand are the most ignorant people on earth. What kind of monarchy has emerged in some people's existence,... you mobilized to tell the nation that subsidies are bad and do not do it? 97 percent want something, why do you go against the nation? 80 million people do not understand, you understand, this nation brought you to power.' The head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission also described Ahmadinejad's correspondence with U.S. presidents as 'a national disgrace' and added, 'What kind of action is it for the president of the Islamic Republic to write a letter to the president of the United States, and he does not respond to it?!' In early March, Ahmadinejad wrote a letter to the U.S. president welcoming Donald Trump's critical views on 'the electoral and political system of America' and advised him to appreciate his 'fleeting four-year opportunity' and 'make the most of every moment'. Ahmadinejad, who has a history of corresponding with two previous U.S. presidents, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, addressed the current U.S. president in a very long letter, and at that time it was reported that a copy of his letter was 'in the possession of the Swiss embassy, as the protector of U.S. interests in Iran'. However, the Arman newspaper reported, citing 'a reliable source', that this letter was 'delivered to the guard of the Swiss embassy in Tehran (as the protector of U.S. interests in Iran)' and 'a few days later, the Swiss embassy announced this news to our foreign ministry, stating that this embassy and its country do not have the role of a letter carrier.'