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By Leigh Catherine Miles
Editor, Iran Election Bulletin

Dear Reader,

This week former prime minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi officially announced that he is running for president and conservative mayor of Tehran Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stopped just short of officially launching his campaign.  As the number of high-profile candidates on both sides of the political divide increases, political leaders and voters are faced with tough choices over whom to support.  In this issue of the Iran Election Bulletin, Geneive Abdo examines the factions that are dividing conservatives and the emergence of what some are calling a “pragmatic conservative movement.”  Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad examines the fault lines within the electorate and raises the question whether there really is choice amid all the candidates.  And finally, we examine how all the political maneuvering is playing out in the media – from the right and the left.

I hope you continue to enjoy reading the Iran Election Bulletin, and welcome your comments and questions at lmiles@ndi.org.

Sincerely,
Leigh Catherine Miles
Editor

« Read the rest of this issue of the Bulletin

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Published on March 12, 2009