TEHRAN, 6 March 2008 — Iranian politicians may find it tougher to reach out to voters in this month’s parliamentary elections when campaigning starts today because of a ban on posters bearing their photographs.
Such posters have been a typical campaign tactic in Iran where personalities not parties dominate elections. The onset of any poll usually leads to a blizzard of posters with portraits of candidates on buildings, street lamps and inside bazaars.
But Parliament banned such posters with candidates’ photos for the March 14 vote, saying it was wasteful and led to an expensive post-election clean up.
As a result, political groups are expected to play a bigger role in promoting their list of candidates in the vote which is being seen as a test of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s popularity. It may indicate his chances for re-election in 2009.
There is no tradition of disciplined party membership or detailed party platforms in Iran but looser political coalitions have emerged, stringing banners up to promote their lists in Tehran where 30 of Parliament’s 290 seats are up for grabs.
“Scientific Management, Welfare Society,” a conservative grouping, called the United Front, wrote in one banner.
The United Front is Iran’s biggest conservative coalition and is likely to dominate the race. It includes supporters and opponents of Ahmadinejad but analysts say it is the most pro-government of the three main groups contesting.
