In Iran, reformers seeking to coalesce around a single candidate

In Iran, despite the dreaded abstention, especially among the young, the reform movement seeks to exploit all its possibilities, by aggregating the forces on a single candidate. The withdrawal of Mohammad Reza Aref from the presidential contest can only be explained in this regard. As explained by the same candidate withdrew, his presence in the elections was not in the interest of the movement, because it was in danger of fragmenting the vote of reformist tendency. The attention of this movement now move on the candidacy of Hassan Rohani, who also enjoys the favor of former President Rafsanjani. The tactic used by the reformists is not new, however, since even the conservative Ali Hadad-Adel, had given up since last Monday in favor of the victory of an exponent of at least moderate. This situation is almost a mirror in the two opposing political orientations, is due to the large abstention which is expected to occur and characterize the presidential contest. The election campaign was conducted, so far, in a minor key, without much advertising or rallies, which had marked the election of 2009. This strategy is also part of the intentions of the authorities who have the power to do everything to prevent the events of protest that followed the election of the incumbent president. The one that has developed among the population is a deep sense of detachment from politics due to the disappointment of the administration of the state, especially the constant deterioration of the economic, the most felt by the population. The political apathy was, thus, the most important consequence, the truth is already present for some time, which affected the electoral event. There is also the aspect of the abstention of youth, which is the heaviest on the total of the phenomenon. The Iranian people under thirty-five years represents almost half of the total electorate and it is estimated that only a value between 30 and 40 per cent of this age group will go to the polls. The youth vote is traditionally deployed to the reformists, which are unlikely to be so penalized in the final calculation of the votes. Just the evaluation of the higher approval ratings Rohani among the youth population is one of the reasons which led to the surrender Aref. In the reformist camp, it is hoped that this decision will lead to at least get on the ballot. However, the lack of a real unity in the reform movement is a fact and the presence of those who are convinced that only the failure to act has a strong signal, almost of protest to the ruling power, is likely to be the real deciding factor for the victory of the conservatives.