Ahmadinejad win surprises critics

Iran president's second win proved the western media wrong who had predicted Mousavi's victory

Hardnews Bureau

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been re-elected for a second term according to preliminary official results available. His main rival and former prime minister, Mir Hossein Mousavi, has accused Ahmadinejad of irregularities and declared himself as a 'definite winner'.

Ahmadinejad proved the western media wrong who had predicted Mousavi's victory. Of the 38 million votes counted, as of now, the incumbent president secured 63.8 per cent of votes, according to Iran's election commission. This is almost double that of his rival Mousavi who could manage only 32.7 per cent of the votes so far counted.

According to estimates, 80 per cent of the Iran's 46 million voters turned out on Friday. So, any change in the projected result is unlikely,  learnt Hardnews.

Ahmadinejad, son of a blacksmith, had surprised everyone four years ago when he won the presidential election with the support of urban poor and rural voters who felt neglected by the previous government. However, his detractors accused him of 'isolating' the Islamic republic by his constant rhetoric against the West. During the televised debate, during the campaign, Mousavi even charged him for lying to the nation about the crumbling economy.

Western leaders were keenly watching the elections and hoping for a change of guard. Mousavi, a reformist, is seen as a 'liberal' leader. Young people came out in open support for him in the 'green march'. Mousavi also has the backing of the middle class and the trading community, which form a sizeable portion of the population. His Leftist inclination, close relations with the working class and his wife's continuous efforts to reach out to women ensuring greater personnel freedom can breach Ahmadinejad's fortress. Women voters are being considered as 'game changers' in this hotly contested election.

Mousavi is crying foul and has alleged that the authorities are corroborating the incumbent President's men and in desperation has appealed to the supreme spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khomenei for interventions to what he called 'violation of laws'.