Ahmadinejad’s re-election was the most controversial event in the modern history of Iran as elections were allegedly rigged.

Some 3,400 candidates are competing to get elected to the Consultative Assembly. If anything, the seats of the assembly will be completely dominated by the conservative movement with no real contenders from other political forces whatsoever. Some reformers have already announced that they would boycott elections.

In a country where the opposition is deprived of the right to put up candidates to compete freely and fairly, it will end up with something that reminds us of any totalitarian regime such as the Nazi or communist ones. The reformists, who once created a splash in the political scene in Tehran, are poised to disappear thanks to the official policies that targeted reformists over the last two years.

Although the contest will be fought within the conservative camp, it will be a real test of the popularity for Ahmadinejad. His supporters will have a hard fight against their opponents within the ruling system. “The election is a scale to measure the weight of both Ahmadinejad and his conservative opponents,” said Amir Mohebian, a political analyst in Tehran.

It seems that there is lot at stake for Ahmadinejad after his political feud with the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The relationship between the two leaders has worsened over time. Seen in this way, a victory of Ahmadinejad’s supporters will for sure send a strong message to the ruling clerics including the supreme leader. Ahmadinejad needs to be seen strong hoping that he gets an ally into next presidential elections to make sure that his influence continues. Supporters of Ahmadinejad have formed a bloc called Paidari (Resistance Front). This bloc is expected to run against another rival conservative bloc, Motahed (United Front) who are close to the supreme leader. Istadegi (Endurance Front), close to Mohsen Rezaei is another conservative rival of the president. Additionally, there will be a newly formed group called “The People’s Voice,” that will rival Ahmadinejad’s supporters.

Unlike the previous presidential elections when opponent of the Ahmadinejad staged a series of real protests, this time the possibility of protest is less likely. Observers say that chances are high that reformists and their supporters will not cast their vote either, a step that will diminish the turnout thus weakening the legitimacy of the regime altogether. The government crushed demonstrations that followed the 2009 presidential elections. Ever since, grass roots opposition was projected as if it was a bunch of misguided troublemakers. Major cities are not expected to have high turnout.

In fact, many analysts point out to the frustration of disgruntled Iranians caused by economic difficulties. One analyst in Teheran told Reuters that this would be “the coldest election ever. There is no competition and this election is not about the voters. It is about those counting the votes."

Iran seems to be at a crossroad. The current regime is seeking a high turnout to provide a boost to the country’s standoff with the West over the nuclear issue. People’s backing is more needed these days in light of the current events of Iran’s closest ally: Syria. “If the turnout is high, it can lessen pressures from the sanctions and send this message to the world that the government enjoys people’s support,” Mohebian said.

The timing of elections cannot be more striking. While Iran is subject to severe Western sanctions, it also has been enduring two-digit unemployment and inflation rates. The economic situation is not expected to improve any soon. The government has paid some $40 to each Iranian individual to make up for its food and energy subsidies over the last two years. Different estimates point out that the withdrawal of fuel and food subsidies and the plunging value of the currency have hit the people hard.

Apart from the foreign policy agenda, Iranians are suffering from a weakened economy. In a televised speech, Khamenei picked on the sanctions as nothing but liberating his country form dependence on Western technology. In his words, “They closed the gates of science and technology to us... They closed off the roads. They refused to sell us the products we needed. Yet we made progress…These things happened while we were under sanctions. This is why hopes are growing.”

Observers argue the outcome of the elections will not automatically lead to a change in course either domestically or internationally. On the contrary, Iran is poised to continue its policy particularly with regard to the nuclear standoff with the West. It is against this background that the regime has been mobilizing Iranians for a high turnout. According to the chairman of a cultural committee in the Iranian Parliament Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel, the percentage of the turnout will make or break it for the regime. He added that a remarkable turnout will not only strike a deadly blow to all of Iran’s adversaries but will undermine all efforts designed to deprive Iran of its right to pursue peaceful nuclear technology.

If anything, the March 2 elections will be colorless and an expression of democracy within the same tribe. It will be void from pluralism as reformists are either banned or unwilling to take part in elections that will not be free and fair.