Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's right-wing populist president, should face a tough reelection battle this year: inflation is running at an annual rate of 26%, while the drop in global crude oil prices threatens to bring unemployment, falling incomes and cuts in subsidies for food and fuel. The reformist camp in Iran, however, has been badly demoralized since the failure of systemic reform efforts during the presidency of Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005) and has been further weakened by increased repression under Ahmadinjead.
This June's presidential election, therefore, is shaping up to be close. A recent article in The Economist takes a look at the race as it starts, and explains the importance of the election -- to Iranians and to the rest of the world:
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