Financial Times; Sep 25, 2002
Struggle for power in Iran heading for a showdown
By Guy Dinmore and Najmeh Bozorgmehr in Tehran
President Mohammad Khatami of Iran yesterday asked parliament to grant him more power to implement his political reforms, in a move that could bring to a head his long-running struggle with hardline opponents.
In a highly controversial bill presented to parliament, widely seen as the most significant legislation since he took office in 1997, the president is seeking to stop conservative clerics in the judiciary violating the constitution through politically motivated trials and closures of newspapers.
Mr Khatami also wants the authority to investigate and block breaches of the constitution by powerful institutions, such as the Revolutionary Guards and state broadcast media, that are answerable only to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The proposed law stops short of giving the president the power to dismiss members of the judiciary but it would effectively establish, for the first time, a constitutional court to deal with his complaints. Critics calling for more radical change say the judiciary would still have the upper hand.
This renewed push by the reformists to break the political impasse is driven by a realisation that their popular mandate is disappearing.
Officially sponsored opinion polls show support for Mr Khatami has dropped from more than 75 per cent in 1998 to 43 per cent. Nearly 80 per cent want the president's powers strengthened.
Parliament, with its large pro-reform majority, is almost certain to approve the bill but conservative clerics have frequently blocked legislation over the past five years.
Mr Khatami has privately warned that he would then call an unprecedented national referendum. Should the supreme leader block that, Mr Khatami's ultimate threat is resignation.
"We are serious. He will resign if there is no referendum," a senior reformist told the Financial Times.
A senior conservative said Ayatollah Khamenei would allow the bill to pass rather than let the power struggle threaten the stability of the Islamic regime as a whole.
Separate, and more sensitive, legislation already before parliament would reduce the powers of the hardline and non-elected Council of Guardians to vet electoral candidates. Vice-President Mohammad-Ali Abtahi, who presented yesterday's bill, said the two laws were one package.