Traveling with Helicopter, Fearing the Public

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s inauguration ceremony as the Islamic Republic’s tenth president was held yesterday at the Majlis while most Majlis seats remained empty, prompting the organizers to transfer guest from the mezzanine level to the main floor.  Even senior assistant to the supreme leader and Major General Firouzabadi, who usually sit in the second or third row at such events, sat in the first row to fill in the empty seats. 

The ceremony was held under the most severe and unprecedented security precautions.  According to the Parleman News website, out of the 70 lawmakers from the minority reformist faction, only 17 attended the ceremony, and some left the Majlis floor as Ahmadinejad started his speech.  According to lawmaker Majid Nasirpour, several prominent conservative figures were absent as well. 

In addition, most of the invited foreign dignitaries and ambassadors did not attend the event, some sending junior diplomats, such as third-level deputies, to Ahmadinejad’s inauguration event.

Among other absentees were chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, foreign president Mohammad Khatami, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karoubi and Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri.  Many of the representatives in the Assembly of Experts were also absent.  However, the head of the judiciary, members of the Guardian Council and military commanders were present at the ceremony. 

While Mohsen Kouhkan, spokesman for the Majlis leadership council, had announced that preparations were made to welcome 250 guests on the Majlis floor, most of the seats on the Majlis floor remained empty.

According to the report by Parleman News, although in his introductory remarks Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani announced that prominent sports and entertainment icons were invited to the ceremony, reporters saw no such icons.

After taking the oath of office, Ahmadinejad said in his speech, “We will not remain silent against law-breaking, interference and abuse of international structures, aggression and injustice in the world.”

He also reacted to some western nations’ decision not to congratulate him.  “No one in Iran is waiting for your congratulations,” he said. “The people of Iran care neither for your grimaces nor for your congratulations and smiles.”

On the other hand, while websites close to Ahmadinejad denied reports that he was transported to the Majlis on a helicopter, reporters present on the scene confirmed that Ahmadinejad had arrived on a helicopter.  According to the news portal of the Majlis minority faction, more than 10 reporters on the scene confirmed that they saw either Ahmadinejad’s entrance in a helicopter, or his entrance into the Majlis building immediately after hearing a helicopter land.