Coalitions Boost Voter Turnout, Serve National Interests

Coalitions between political parties would not only encourage people to participate in elections, but also serve national interests in the long run, a senior official says. 
"Negotiations between opposite parties or likeminded parties have in the past led to the formation of coalitions, which have been influential in shaping political trends in the country," Massoumeh Ebtekar, vice president for women and family affairs, told Khabar Online about the next round of parliamentary elections slated for February 2020.
“The country is in great need of dialogue for coalition-building. Such negotiations can serve as a trust-building measure because people would realize that political groups prefer national interests over factional ones." 
She believes "an inclusive dialogue" is a necessity and a sign of progress. 
"Dialogue is one of the aspects of politics and should take place between people with different views, inclinations and expectations, and not only people with similar opinions," she said. 
Ebtekar noted that the creation of a coalition between various entities, such as reformists and moderate political groups, is the best way to bring people to the polls, which has benefited the country in the past. 
In the 2016 parliamentary elections, a reformist-backed list of candidates aligned with moderate President Hassan Rouhani won all 30 seats in the Tehran constituency and helped advance his initiatives in certain areas. 

Target of Blame

Asked about the fact that the reform camp has been blamed for the shortcomings in the Rouhani administration's policies, the official noted that when a coalition is formed, a particular party may be held accountable for some issues even when the decisions made are not aligned with its main views. 
"However, we should take the final outcome into consideration. If such coalitions had not been made, the country would have faced many challenges," she said. 
Ebtekar added that many reformist politicians are not just concerned about their own interests and want to help safeguard national interests, "that’s why the pro-reform front has such a strong support base among people". 
" The coalition between reformers and moderate factions has shielded the country against many threats and helped change many domestic trends for the better," she said, adding that reformists were among the main supporters of the 2015 nuclear deal signed between Tehran and world powers—a landmark agreement that helped silence the drums of war against Iran. 
The vice president maintains that such a coalition helped improve the country's social and cultural conditions, particularly the situation in universities. 
"Of course, there are still many problems in terms of different types of freedom and political issues. But we should remember that the death of parties would have been imminent, if the past trend had continued," she said. 
Ebtekar stressed that not voting in the elections will bring politicians to power who may be oblivious about people's true needs and rights.