The Mousavi Agenda

By TARA MAHTAFAR in Tehran | 10 June 2009

Mir Hossein Mousavi has dubbed his future administration 'Government of Hope' (dolat-e omid). In a nationally-broadcast interview last night, he invited voters to study the 100-page booklet detailing his policies in print or electronic format. Here are some highlights from programs slated on Mousavi's agenda:

Economy

Policies:

- Transparency in oil contracts and revenues to fight extortion and corruption

- Expansion of the private sector and establishment of labor unions

- Moving away from an oil-based economy

Programs:

- Transformation of the oil industry into an engine for economic development

- Reduction of housing poverty in accordance with article 33 of the constitution

- Revision of budgeting protocol to minimize wasteful government expenditure

- Modification of energy consumption models

- Fighting hyper-inflation and excessive cash flow

The text elaborates on his diplomacy-oriented foreign policy, and programs in other areas including the education system, transport and logistics, social welfare, healthcare, environmental conservation, arts and culture, and women's rights.

Mousavi's pet program, which he has ardently championed in every rally speech, is "e-government." He expounds the term here as such:

- Providing free dial-up internet access nationwide

- Increasing bandwidth to broadband internet for private subscribers

- Revision of filtering policy to preserve freedoms of speech and press

- Expansion of knowledge-based economy by supporting technology-driven business and social initiatives

- Developing online governmental services to increase efficiency and convenience

In an appendix, the Reformist contender has included a civil rights charter, a declaration on the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, and a 'bridge' program for the Iranian Diaspora -- all resounding firsts in political discourse for any presidential candidate in the Islamic Republic's 30-year history.

The 'green wave' born of Mousavi's independent grassroots campaign, in the words of one commentator, has surged to a 'green flood' -- thanks to street-and-cybersphere campaigns orchestrated by an energized, tech-savvy youth base and outreach efforts across Iran's entire demographic spectrum: urban and rural, privileged and poor, ethnic groups, women -- extending even to the pro-hardliner basij youth brigade.

If Mr. Mousavi is elected the next president of the Islamic Republic, the implementation of his programs could spell rapid, major growth for the country by unleashing social potential suppressed during Ahmadinejad's tenure. The question many are asking though is: How will any president overcome the entrenched bureaucracy present at all levels of the Iranian government system?

Copyright (c) 2009 Tehran Bureau