Ahmadinejad's Domestic Troubles--ATimes

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2//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong Oct 4, 2006

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HJ04Ak01.html

AHMADINEJAD’S DOMESTIC TROUBLES

By Kimia Sanati

TEHRAN - While President Mahmud Ahmadinejad is busy running a high-voltage campaign against the United States and its policies, Iranians are wondering whether he will ever make good on election promises to crack down on corruption and distribute Iran's vast oil revenues more equitably.

"My whole family voted for Ahmadinejad because he promised to improve our lives. He said he was going to fight corruption and create jobs. He said oil money belonged to the people. I haven't

seen any of the oil money in my house yet, but I have to deal with the ever increasing prices anyway," said a 67-year-old pensioner who asked to remain anonymous. "I'm running a family of three on less than US$220 a month and the price of the cheapest cut of meat is $6 per kilogram. Thank God I'm not paying rent or we wouldn't have anything to eat."

A political analyst in Tehran said: "Dissatisfaction with the administration of President Ahmadinejad is not yet widespread, but it is growing fast. The hardline government that outran reformists on a plank to check inflation, lift living standards, create employment, and take a bite out of the corrupt and the rich and give it to the impoverished has not only failed to deliver those promises, but has clearly moved in the opposite direction."

He said: "Iran is the 30th-largest economy in the world. The per capita income in 2006 is estimated to rise to $3,465, or $700 more than the previous year. But according to Social Security Organization figures, 30% of the population is still living under the poverty line. The top 20% of the population is holding 50% of the national income and 80% of the total wealth, so it's quite natural that economic improvement means a great deal to the president's most ardent supporters, the impoverished.

”Results of an opinion poll reported by Mehr News Agency in September show that in May, 61% of those asked found his team successful in the nuclear issue, 44% in managing inflation and only 37% in fighting corruption.

"The report doesn't mention percentages but says those asked consider unemployment and inflation the administration's most urgent problems. It seems Ahmadinejad has concentrated his efforts more in foreign policy rather than in the more challenging economic arena."

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