Iranian Pensioners' Council: The Massive 'Women, Life, Freedom' Movement Continues with a Widespread Election Boycott

An independent pensioners' organization in Iran, continuing the reactions of political and civil figures to the elections on Friday, March 2, stated that the massive 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement continues with a widespread boycott of the elections. The Iranian Pensioners' Council pointed out that polling stations were emptier than ever, indicating that despite all threats and promises, the government could not reach even a minimal number of votes to maintain appearances. The organization wrote: 'The noise of state media and the extension of voting time cannot change this historical reality that the distance between the government and the people is from earth to sky.' The Iranian Pensioners' Council also quoted a retiree saying that 'the turnout in all previous periods has been much lower, and the system's officials must hear our voices without violence.' The Revolutionary Workers' Union of Iran also described the March 2 elections as another failure for the Islamic Republic, stating: 'The widespread boycott of the elections by the people, of course, did not affect the fabrications of media outlets like IRNA and Fars, which, as part of their duty to blind the people, constantly reported crowds at polling stations, while their reports and images were mainly limited to the votes of commanders of the IRGC, mourners, government figures, Khamenei himself, and a few individuals in one or two pre-organized areas where they brought people.' The Revolutionary Workers' Union of Iran added: 'Regardless of any number manipulation and any level of fabrication regarding the election results, and regardless of which individuals and affiliates of which factions gain the majority in parliament, the failure of this show and the government's failure to bring people to the polls is completely evident and clear.' This organization noted that in recent days, the government spared no effort in 'heavily investing in first-time voters, using threats and intimidation by employers against workers regarding job termination if they did not participate in the elections, threatening teachers, threatening healthcare personnel, forcing soldiers to participate in voting, spreading news of vote buying by candidates in various cities, widespread arrests of boycott supporters, and restricting the internet to make news dissemination difficult.' The Revolutionary Workers' Union of Iran, referring to the failure of the election show and the people's crossing over all factions and internal groupings of the regime, added that 'the people, by a unified boycott of the election show and leaving polling stations empty,' clearly announced that 'they consider Khamenei and his entourage as their main enemy and demand the overthrow of the Islamic Republic.' According to this organization's assessment, the Islamic Republic, after the election show of March 2, has become 'more decrepit, more isolated, and has lost legitimacy,' and therefore, 'it is not surprising that after the failure of the March 2 show, the civil struggles of women and youth, the demands of wage earners, and the anti-despotism struggles of the general public against repression and executions will once again expand.' Before the elections, Ali Khamenei and other political and military officials of the Islamic Republic repeatedly urged the Iranian people to go to the polls with varying tones, making promises or threats. The call for public participation in the elections on Friday came at a time when 'Etelaat Online' reported on March 1 that 'given the existing economic and social grievances across the country and the manner of vetting candidates and implementing supervisory oversight, it seems that even some conservative factions have no hope for significant participation in the upcoming elections.' In the days leading up to the elections for the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Assembly of Experts on Friday, many calls for an election boycott had been issued. One of these calls came from the Coordinating Council of Teachers' Unions of Iran, the largest independent trade union organization in Iran, which described the elections on Friday as a 'show.' Claims of a 40% turnout in the March 2 elections; Ali Khamenei's remarks on May 17, 2001; claims of enthusiastic public participation in the elections, contrary to images of people on social media; reports by Afshar Sigarchi; a repeat of the 'democracy showcase'; domestic media claimed more than 40% participation in the elections; some citizens in conversations with Voice of America: the elections are a show, and we will not participate; Abram Pili: the people of Iran cannot express their true opinions at the polling stations.