Yet, unfortunately, campaigning has been limited to one week, which is far too short. Candidates, especially those campaigning as members of parties or coalitions, should have been given enough time to comprehensively elaborate on their plans.
In a country like Iran, where mayors are not directly elected, it may be difficult to arrange television debates due to the large number of candidates, but it would be helpful if there were TV debates between representatives of the rival camps who are running in large cities like Tehran, Isfahan, Ahwaz, Shiraz, Mashhad, and Tabriz.
For example, air pollution and traffic congestion are major problems of the big cities, while candidates are promising “blue skies” and smooth sailing on the highways and byways if elected.
Many candidates are making unrealistic promises, but no one is calling their bluff.
In fact, city councils do not have sufficient authority to solve the air pollution problems of big cities. The municipal councils can plan to build more parks and highways, but they cannot regulate the number of cars hitting the streets or ban jalopies.
For example, many freeways, bridges, and parks have been constructed in the megalopolis of Tehran, with a population of about 13 million according to some estimates, but air pollution is still so bad that there are frequent smog alerts and last winter heavy air pollution brought the capital to a standstill, with schools and offices closed for days.
Urban planners say building more highways is not the answer and that the air pollution and traffic problems cannot be solved unless the main causes are addressed.
Thus, those who promise blue skies over Tehran are either unaware of the limited authority of the city councils or are just being disingenuous.
Tehran’s pollution problem is mainly due to heavily-subsidized petrol prices and the large number of environmentally unfriendly dilapidated cars plying the capital’s streets, two issues which the city council has no control over.
Some sitting councilors originally said the laws outlining the mandate of municipal councils were appropriate and that there was no need for parliament to pass new laws, but later discovered that the duties of municipal councils and the Interior Ministry sometimes overlap, there are some ambiguities in the law, and the councils do not have sufficient power to implement their plans.
If there were TV debates or some other way to take candidates to task over their empty promises, the average citizen would be able to cast a more informed vote.
Serious discussions among candidates in election campaigns would not only allow the electorate to select those who are the most proficient in city management and urban planning but could also provide an opportunity to revise the laws for municipal councils when necessary.
MS/HG
END
MNA