how much support does Ahmadinejad have?

[The Cheshire Cat]

Does anyone know, preferably Iranian people of course, how much support Ahmedinejad has? I hear a lot of different things. And how much support does the current Ayatollah have?
Thank you.

[lombas]

(I'm not Iranian but was supposed to be there right now as a friend of mine is Iranian so that explains my interest in the matter.)

It's very difficult to say. Traditionally, Iranian politics have been divided by reformists and conservatives. Since the split between Ahmadinejad and ayatollah Khamenei over a whole variety of issues for tons of reasons, the conservative faction has been split as well. Popular support for Ahmadinejad has declined: on the one hand, he didn't achieve much in the eyes of his electorate (rural poor, lower middle class); on the other hand: Khamenei's disapproval of his policies has brought some reformists backing conservative Khamenei-supporters in lieu of reformists.

We should add the ayatollah practically has everyone's support... Nominally, everyone supports him. But he's not the government (though the clergy control almost every aspect of policymaking).

So I'd say Ahmadinejad's support is gradually declining: the latest elections already showed a decline of pro-Ahmadinejad conservatives, and with the presidential elections coming up this won't improve. This won't bring reformists back into power, but the anti-Ahmadinejad parties might put a serious contestant in spotlights.

[Threetune]

Does anyone know, preferably Iranian people of course, how much support Ahmedinejad has? I hear a lot of different things. And how much support does the current Ayatollah have?
Thank you.

Why do you want to know? If he has support from 1………10 what would that tell you or us? Ask a better question.

[Comrade Samuel]

A better question is how much support does he have that isent deathly afraid of him killing them if they decide not to "vote" for him?

[lombas]

A better question is how much support does he have that isent deathly afraid of him killing them if they decide not to "vote" for him?

Say what now?

[Ocean Seal]

Everytime an American/Israeli asks for war Ahmadinejad gets more popular. I'm not sure how popular he in Iran, but I know that he's popular in other parts of the Arab world.

[l'Enfermé]

He's really popular among the poorer people in Iran.

[lombas]

Everytime an American/Israeli asks for war Ahmadinejad gets more popular. I'm not sure how popular he in Iran, but I know that he's popular in other parts of the Arab world.

Ehm... Syria, Lebanon en some parts of Palestine - but I can't see how Ahmadinejad would be popular in Morocco, Tunesia or Jordan...?

[lombas]

He's really popular among the poorer people in Iran.

Well, he should better start doing something for them instead of flashing pictures with Chavez...

[hashem]

he hasnt got much support among ordinary people. Iranians openly mock him. he is very stupid. he became "president" only because he was a puppet of Khamenei. Khamenei needed a puppet not an actual politician, because he was afraid to share his powers with a serious person. but as soon as Ahmadinejad tried to gain some independence for himself, Khamenei started punishing him.

Ahmadinejad is not needed anymore, Iranian conservatives are just waiting for an "election" to throw him away along with his gang.

[Traveller]

he hasnt got much support among ordinary people. Iranians openly mock him. he is very stupid. he became "president" only because he was a puppet of Khamenei. Khamenei needed a puppet not an actual politician, because he was afraid to share his powers with a serious person. but as soon as Ahmadinejad tried to gain some independence for himself, Khamenei started punishing him.

Ahmadinejad is not needed anymore, Iranian conservatives are just waiting for an "election" to throw him away along with his gang.

Than the question is that how conservative the iranian society.

[hashem]

Than the question is that how conservative the iranian society.

No. that is not the question. ordinary people are not involved at all. all of islamist factions have lost their legitimacy in peoples opinion. "Conservatives" which i refered to, are the closest faction to Khamenei (supreme leader or to be precise: the king of Iran).

non of the ruling class parties have any mass support. they might try to bribe tribal chiefs at remote areas in order to demonstrate their "popularity" and gain some votes in "elections". but that cant be seen as real popular support.

on the other hand, opposition parties (especially leftists) are very weak mostly because of mass executions during 1980s and after that. Kurdestan is an exeption. CPI has lead several successful mass strikes against the government.

[ABMarx]

It's hard to really ever say how much genuine support a dictatorial regime has. Regardless of what the numbers truly are I don't really see a regime-change any time soon, barring some form of Western imperialist-involvement.

[l'Enfermé]

Btw, the support Mousavi enjoyed in the West during the post-elections unrest is rather funny, because Mousavi himself is an Islamist also.

[hashem]

Ahmadinejad does have legitimate support:

www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/652.php (http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/652.php)

He is seen as uncorrupted and has vast support among the poorer. And he is not stupid at all, if you watch his interviews you will see he is actually very intelligent and consistent.



there can be no real polls under dictatorships such as Iran. the method which they used in that polling is not logical.

Ahmadinejads government is known to be corrupt as well. islamist factions usually expose each other during their power struggle. in a recent case of corruption, head of National Bank of Iran (Bank-e-melli-e-Iran) stole 1 billion dollars and escaped to Canada! his name is Mahmoud Reza Khavari. just search for his name on internet.

Ahmadinejad is very stupid too. in his speeches he said that England is an island in west of Africa and claimed that a 16 year old girl is using nuclear energy in her house!

[hashem]

Btw, the support Mousavi enjoyed in the West during the post-elections unrest is rather funny, because Mousavi himself is an Islamist also.

demonstrators were not risking their lifes to replace Ahmadinejad with Mousavi. Mousavis temporary popularity was because he opposed Ahmadinejad. but when he tried to clam his supporters who were fighting with police in streets, they pushed him aside.

nowadays people of Iran want a new secular regime, not a Reformist or a Conservative or a Neo Conservative faction of the current islamist regime.