Rouhani's Program Release: "Mossadegh is Still Respected and Khatami is Influential"

Hassan Rouhani, the presidential candidate, published his detailed program for the twelfth government on Thursday evening, May 10. In the introduction of this program, he comments that efforts to eliminate the "national-religious movement" and reformists in the country have not succeeded. Mr. Rouhani, in his program and policy document titled "Iran Again," also mentions that Mohammad Mossadegh is "respected" and Mohammad Khatami is "influential." Other candidates for the 2017 presidential election have not yet presented a detailed program. Rouhani stated in the introduction that "the effort to eliminate the so-called national-religious movement has not succeeded and Mohammad Mossadegh is still a respected figure in society." According to Rouhani, conservatives attempted to remove reformists from the political scene in Iran, but reformists decisively won in the tenth parliamentary elections in Tehran, and the reformist president can influence the elections with a single word. This presidential candidate also identified the "lack of accountability" and tax evasion by some economic foundations, companies owned by religious institutions, and public non-governmental organizations as some of the country's "problems." Rouhani's reference may point to the tax evasion by institutions such as Astan Quds Razavi and the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards, which has become a hot topic of recent discussions with the candidacy of Ebrahim Raisi, the custodian of Astan Quds Razavi. In the economic section of his program, Rouhani referred to the performance of the eleventh government and emphasized the continuation of his programs if re-elected. He discussed reforming the banking system, developing the capital market, increasing employment by improving quality of life, reforming the business environment, developing the private sector, and poverty reduction policies (income justice). Rouhani's government officials cite an 11% economic growth and a single-digit inflation rate as evidence of improved economic conditions for the people compared to the early days of this government, although some analysts and media report that economic growth has yet to have a significant impact on the living conditions of the Iranian people and employment. In this regard, Fereydoun Khavand, an economic analyst, wrote in an analysis for Radio Farda last March that one of the main reasons for the worsening job market despite the growth rate is the oil-based nature of the growth, and that the revival of the oil industry and increased production and export of this commodity is not inherently job-creating. Rouhani has also proposed plans to increase employment, including the "Employer Incentives Plan," "Hope Employment Plan," and "Sustainable Business and Employment Development Plan (Takaapu)." In the "Hope Employment Plan," a four-month internship opportunity is provided for job-seeking youth, and these individuals benefit from facilities including two years of social security insurance and a stipend of up to 600,000 tomans. Rouhani's program also includes the "Youth Employment Stipend Plan," known as "KAJ." Rouhani had previously spoken about this plan, in which young people will intern at economic enterprises, and during the internship, the government will pay their insurance. In the "Takaapu" plan, Rouhani announced his program for creating new jobs in several industries in Iran. According to this plan, projects will be implemented in the clothing industry in the provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan, Tehran, Razavi Khorasan, North Khorasan, Lorestan, Khuzestan, Gilan, East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Ilam, Isfahan, and Kermanshah. Attracting at least $100 million in foreign orders, creating a comprehensive and joint center for developing trade and international markets for the country's clothing industry, and establishing 60 rural clothing production networks in villages are among the components of this plan. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has promised to create five million jobs and pay 250,000 tomans to the unemployed, while Ebrahim Raisi, another conservative candidate, has promised to create six million jobs and triple the subsidies for low-income individuals. In contrast, the Speaker of the Parliament, Ahmad Tavakoli, a conservative representative of the ninth parliament, and some economists have deemed the implementation of these promises impossible, stating that the cost of fulfilling these promises is several times the total budget of the country. Nevertheless, these two presidential candidates insist that their promises are feasible. In the political section of his program, Rouhani also emphasized issues such as implementing the Citizen's Rights Charter, enacting the law on publication and free access to information, drafting and implementing comprehensive transparency laws, developing political participation, and increasing the participation of ethnic groups and minorities. However, reiterating these promises comes at a time when Rouhani has been unsuccessful in pursuing some of the promises he made during the 2013 presidential election campaign, including lifting the house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. According to some human rights organizations, the human rights situation in Iran has not improved during Rouhani's four-year government, and student organizations inside the country continue to protest against pressure and repression in universities. In this regard, Shirin Ebadi, the Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate, previously described Rouhani's government record on legal freedoms as "very weak" and criticized him for not making any changes in the Ministry of Intelligence contrary to his election promises. The "Freedom House" institute also, in its latest annual report, identified Iran as one of the ten unfree countries regarding media freedom, citing increased pressure on media freedom worldwide.