THAT Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, would win re-election was never in doubt. But the scale of the victory arranged for him has surprised even some of his friends.

Whoever scripted the results made sure that Ahmadinejad won more votes than anyone in the 103-year history of elections in Iran. With almost 63 percent of the votes, Ahmadinejad is credited with twice as many votes as his closest rival, former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi. The turnout was also the highest ever -- put at 85 percent. The president won in every social category and age group and in every one of Iran's 30 provinces. It was even arranged that Ahmadinejad's three rivals, all veterans of the Khomeinist revolution, were roundly defeated in their respective hometowns.

Not surprising, the scale of the victory has raised many eyebrows, even among the regime's apologists.

Mousavi, the best known of the three defeated candidates, has called the election "a dangerous spectacle." Mahdi Karroubi, the only mullah among the four candidates, has threatened unspecified action against "this charade." The third defeated candidate, Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has described the results as "contrary to all reasonable expectations."

The defeated candidates' protestations are unlikely to carry much weight. All three are regime insiders, having occupied key positions within the system for decades. They agreed to enter an electoral process of which every aspect is fixed. To start with, only candidates approved by the Council of the Guardians, a 12-mullah "star chamber," are allowed to run. In the absence of an independent electoral commission, the Ministry of the Interior and the security services control the process. There is no secret ballot, and no representatives of candidates are allowed to supervise the casting and counting of the votes. In theory, the authorities could declare any results they wish without having to worry about outside observers. And this time, at least, it seems that they have done precisely that.

Ahmadinejad may have wanted a big mandate to justify what many believe will be a massive purge of the top echelons of the ruling elite. During the presidential debates, broadcast live on national television, Ahmadinejad named a number of dignitaries, including two of his predecessors, Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohammad Khatami, as Mafia-like "godfathers" engaged in "plundering the nation." He promised that, if re-elected, he would bring the "thieves" to justice and "restore the probity of our Islamic system."

Ahmadinejad has vowed to devote his second four-year term to fighting on two fronts, against Israel and the United States abroad and "centers of corruption" at home. Continued here.....