I rapporti di forza all’interno della dirigenza iraniana nell’analisi di Mehdi Khalaji, del Washington Institute:

PolicyWatch #1147
Iranian President Ahmadinezhad’s Relations with Supreme Leader Khamenei
September 12, 2006

As part of their close consultation over how to respond to the Iranian nuclear challenge, top officials from the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany met in Berlin on September 7. In developing a plan for influencing Iran, a key consideration is, who are the key decision-makers in Iran? In particular, what are the relative roles of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinezhad? The record from Ahmadinezhad’s first year in office suggests that at least on domestic policy, his actions have systematically reinforced Khamenei’s authority.

Background: The Iranian Political System

Although it is true that power in Iran is not entirely in the hands of one person, Iran’s supreme leader has consolidated much power and is the final decisionmaker within the Islamic Republic. According to the constitution, the supreme leader directly appoints the head of the judiciary; military officers; the Expediency Council; a majority of the Guardian Council; and the heads of dozens of political, economic, and cultural institutions. Of Iran’s important political positions, only the presidency and parliament (Majlis) members are outside the supreme leader’s power of appointment.

By means of Ahmadinezhad’s 2005 election as well as the conservative victory in 2004 parliamentary elections, Khamenei has marginalized opposition in the elected political bodies. The effect has been to further consolidate his power relative to that of the elected branches of government. As it stands now, the supreme leader is well positioned to intervene to resolve any differences among members of the Majlis and between the Majlis and Ahmadinezhad’s cabinet.
(continua qui)