Ahmadinejad Declares 'Viva Spring' in Iran
Outgoing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad seeks a populist mantle to retain leverage in Iran and possibly determine his successor, writes Mehdi Jedinia.
As he prepares to give up his office, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is using what remains of his public platform to protect his followers and try to leave a lasting legacy in the Islamic Republic.
In his speech Sunday [Feb. 10] marking the 34th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, Ahmadinejad used a slogan — "Viva Spring" — that sought to piggyback on the Arab uprisings of the past two years and suggest that Iran would likewise benefit from greater transparency in government.
