The June 2021 presidential election to elect the thirteenth head of government in the forty-third year of the Islamic Republic [of Iran] does not have a very clear perspective and it is not clear how much it can have positive and durable effects on improving the situation of the country and people in the next four years.
In republican systems and in countries where relatively free elections are held with the participation of different parties and tendencies and with the participation of individuals, the change of governments to some extent creates hopes for improving the current situation and moving towards better and more favorable conditions. Of course, this becomes more possible when the structure of the political system and the entire state in that country also have the necessary capacities for change and transformation in a positive direction and submits to its requirements.
The experience of previous presidential elections in our country has always been accompanied by fear and hope, and sometimes it has created the viewpoint among the people that they have no choice but to choose from a limited number of candidates that all somehow represent a part of the state and the current situation. And they have no a clear plan and working roadmap to administrate and run the country in various fields, so the people have to vote and choose one of them and then return home and spend four or, usually, eight years with the trials and errors of a group of statesmen.
After 42 years of the existence of the Islamic Republic, it has become clear that some of the problems in the country have structural roots and there is a dire need to reconsider some macro-government policies and change the way of governing and amend some articles of the constitution.
It should be noted in this note that the Sunni community of Iran, which constitutes the second largest demographic and religious majority in the country and has always been active in the national and social arenas, in previous elections had called for strengthening solidarity and national dignity and crystallization of the demands and opinions of the well-wishers of this land. So the Sunnis entered the scene passionately, but regrettably, they have come to know that not only they have not received a reasonable and desirable reward, but they have become frustrated and disappointed in some areas.
The question arises, if the constitution does not allow Sunni candidates to run for presidency – an article that needs to be reconsidered – is there a legal ban on engaging Sunni citizens as vice president, minister and national and provincial administrations? Is what has been attributed to the Sunnis so far compatible with the population, capacities and level of political participation and their civil rights?
However, now we are close to a new government. So there is a strong expectation from the state institutions and government officials to know their responsibility and create conditions for returning hope and trust to the nation, justice should be achieved, the past mistakes and weaknesses should not be repeated and blunders should be compensated. Let all Iranians believe that they can have a more active and hopeful participation in the development of Iran and the pride of this nation and land.