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Ahmadinejad Criticized by Opposition

After being criticized by the United States and Europe, the Iranian President is now being criticized from back home. The Iranian Reform Party slammed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for not taking care of the interests of the Iranian people and for causing uncalled for tensions with the international community. In a statement released by the country`s reformist faction, Noureddin Pirmoazzen, a spokesperson for the faction, said Ahmadinejad was solely responsible for the UN sanctions on Iran. The opposition`s response has come as a reply to Ahmadinejad`s recent comments on nuclear armament and a recent Holocaust denying conference arranged by the President.

The Reformist faction has already held the reigns of Iranian power in the past under the leadership of Mohammad Khatami, who has recently been enjoying renewed public support. Two weeks ago Khatami,s supporters beat Ahmadinejad`s supporters in the election for the country`s "Council of Experts" and local government.

The Iranian Parliament consists of 290 lawmakers, who have the legal ability to impeach the President and his ministers. The Parliament is split into 3 major factions: Reformists, Conservatives and Ultra-Conservatives. In the last parliamentary elections held in the country in 2004, the Reformist faction lost its mayoralty hold to the Ultra-Conservative faction. This trend continued with the election of Ahmadinejad as President in 2005. Experts believe Ahmadinejad`s popularity is in decline due to the last month`s unflattering election results. His religious patron the Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi was only ranked 6th, while the moderate former President Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani was ranked first, in the elections.