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Man. this keeps getting more interesting
Ahmadinejad humiliated over vice president choice.
Okay, so basically, Ahmadinejad recently picked a guy named Esfandiar Rahim Mashai to be the First Vice-President. (Not first as they've never had one before, but first in rank. Iran has twelve vice-presidents.) Mashai also happens to be Ahmadinejad's son's father-in-law.
He is also, apparently, a soppy liberal. Well, no, not how we would probably consider things. But to Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (the guy who is really in charge in Iran), Mashai is a problem. You see, back in 2008, Mashai dared to say that Iranians were "friends of all people in the world - even Israelis." You can imagine how well that went over.
So, Ahmadinejad picking him as a political ally resulted in... drum roll please... Khamenei ordering Ahmadinejad to dismiss Mashai from his newly appointed post.
Here's the kicker... will Ahmadinejad do it? Honestly, he probably will. But Ahmadinejad is in a pretty good position to stand up for his choice. Basically, all the political turmoil over the (almost certainly rigged) election means that the overall power structure (Khamanei and the rest of the Guardian Council) preferred Ahmadinejad to his chief rival in the election, Mousavi, despite the fact that all major decisions are made, regardless of who is President, by the Supreme Leader.
But, Khamenei needs Ahmadinejad to stay in office and look like a strong leader just as much as Ahmadinejad needs Khamenei's support. If Ahmadinejad is forced to dismiss Khamenei, it weakens Ahmadinejad. Even more, although this is highly unlikely, it could result in Ahmadinejad stepping down. That, friends and neighors, would really stir things up in Iran.
No, I don't think Ahmadinejad will step down if he is forced to dismiss Mashai. But it is an interesting thought, isn't it?
Okay, so basically, Ahmadinejad recently picked a guy named Esfandiar Rahim Mashai to be the First Vice-President. (Not first as they've never had one before, but first in rank. Iran has twelve vice-presidents.) Mashai also happens to be Ahmadinejad's son's father-in-law.
He is also, apparently, a soppy liberal. Well, no, not how we would probably consider things. But to Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (the guy who is really in charge in Iran), Mashai is a problem. You see, back in 2008, Mashai dared to say that Iranians were "friends of all people in the world - even Israelis." You can imagine how well that went over.
So, Ahmadinejad picking him as a political ally resulted in... drum roll please... Khamenei ordering Ahmadinejad to dismiss Mashai from his newly appointed post.
Here's the kicker... will Ahmadinejad do it? Honestly, he probably will. But Ahmadinejad is in a pretty good position to stand up for his choice. Basically, all the political turmoil over the (almost certainly rigged) election means that the overall power structure (Khamanei and the rest of the Guardian Council) preferred Ahmadinejad to his chief rival in the election, Mousavi, despite the fact that all major decisions are made, regardless of who is President, by the Supreme Leader.
But, Khamenei needs Ahmadinejad to stay in office and look like a strong leader just as much as Ahmadinejad needs Khamenei's support. If Ahmadinejad is forced to dismiss Khamenei, it weakens Ahmadinejad. Even more, although this is highly unlikely, it could result in Ahmadinejad stepping down. That, friends and neighors, would really stir things up in Iran.
No, I don't think Ahmadinejad will step down if he is forced to dismiss Mashai. But it is an interesting thought, isn't it?
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Very!
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But if Khamenei wants Mashai gone from the post, he'll be gone. The simple fact that the hard-liners are against Mashai means that even if he did stay in office, he'd have no real power (even considering that Khamenei makes all the decisions anyway). Hell, Ahmadinejad's the same way. Khamenei says jump, Ahmadinejad says "How high?"
By Monday, at the latest, Mashai will be out. Hell, I'll be surprised if he lasts to the weekend.