Iran will host parliamentary elections on March 2nd. Tensions have been high as the Iran regime has suppressed and ended the Green Movement protests on Tuesday. The Green Movement is a group of protestors demanding the removal of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from office. Many saw the last election as fraudulent because Ahmadinejad claimed victory before the vote count was done, causing many to believe the elections were rigged by the government. After the election, there was massive protests which were put down by the government militia forces, leaving several killed. The Iran government also began to censor media and slow down internet access.
Tuesday's protests were a sign of the Green Movement's strength and perseverance. Despite the obstacles the government has put into place, they managed to hold protests in numerous cities. It is expected that the election on March 2nd will have a huge turnout and more than likely will result in further protests, which the government claims it will be ready for.
Iran's transition into a parliamentary system when there was little to no democracy before, will be an awkward and difficult transition. The questionable election of Ahmadinejad is a clear example of the struggles many countries face when transitioning into a more democratic government. Furthermore, the Prime Minister's role and the Shah's role in government make the transition into a full fledged democracy all the more difficult as the government is strictly ruled by the more religious conservatives. The Green Movement appear to be very united, organized, and dedicated to their cause and if the government continues to poorly represent the people, a civil war may be on their hands and the protestors will forcibly remove Ahmadinejad out of power.
Iran's Green Movement
Tuesday's protests were a sign of the Green Movement's strength and perseverance. Despite the obstacles the government has put into place, they managed to hold protests in numerous cities. It is expected that the election on March 2nd will have a huge turnout and more than likely will result in further protests, which the government claims it will be ready for.
Iran's transition into a parliamentary system when there was little to no democracy before, will be an awkward and difficult transition. The questionable election of Ahmadinejad is a clear example of the struggles many countries face when transitioning into a more democratic government. Furthermore, the Prime Minister's role and the Shah's role in government make the transition into a full fledged democracy all the more difficult as the government is strictly ruled by the more religious conservatives. The Green Movement appear to be very united, organized, and dedicated to their cause and if the government continues to poorly represent the people, a civil war may be on their hands and the protestors will forcibly remove Ahmadinejad out of power.
Iran's Green Movement
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