Reformists Front (), formerly called Democracy Front () and Front for Consolidation of Democracy (), is an Iranian

reformist Reformism is a political tendency advocating the reform of an existing system or institution – often a political or religious establishment – as opposed to its abolition and replacement via revolution. Within the socialist movement, ref ...

political alliance A parliamentary group, parliamentary caucus or political group is a group consisting of members of different political parties or independent politicians with similar ideologies. Some parliamentary systems allow smaller political parties, who a ...

of "little-known parties" formerly pivoted by Democracy Party.

History

2008 parliamentary election

In 2008 Iranian legislative election, they formed "Popular Coalition of Reforms", consisting of 14 groups. Mostafa Kavakebian and Fatemeh Karroubi were key figures of the alliance. Other than Democracy Party, Islamic Assembly of Women and some Islamic Iran Solidarity Party politicians—not the party itself—were notable members of the coalition. The coalition was allied with National Trust Party and

Moderation and Development Party Moderation and Development Party () is a political party in Iran. It is a pragmatic-centrist political party which held its first congress in 2002. Platform The party is part of the faction called "modernist right", "moderate reformists" and "tec ...

in the election and competed with Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front's "Reformists Coalition: Friends of Khatami" list, as well as conservative

United Front of Principlists United Front of Principlists (, ''Jabhah-e Muttahid-e Uṣūlgarāyān'') was an Iranian principlist political coalition that contested the 2008 and 2012 legislative elections. Member groups 2008 * Front of Followers of the Line of the Imam ...

and Principlists Pervasive Coalition.

2012 parliamentary election

Led by Mostafa Kavakebian, in the 2012 Iranian legislative election they were renamed to "Reformists Front", a name similar to the " Reforms Front"—which decided not to participate in the election. Some reformist groups ruled out any cooperation with the Reformists Front, and some even labeled them as “fake reformists” (). In Tehran, Rey, Shemiranat and Eslamshahr electoral district they were allied with the Worker House and endorsed 15 shared candidates. The two groups were the most notable reformist parties competing in the elections.

Democracy Party departure and front split

In early summer 2014, Democracy Party left the front in order to be able to remain in the Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front. Following the exit, a split occurred in the front. One faction believed the Deputy Secretary-General Mohammad-Javad Haghshenas takes the secretary-general office, and the other faction elected Ali Faezi as the new secretary-general and retained Majid Mohtashami as spokesperson. On 26 October 2014, one faction tried to register the front in the

Ministry of Interior An interior ministry or ministry of the interior (also called ministry of home affairs or ministry of internal affairs) is a government department that is responsible for domestic policy, public security and law enforcement. In some states, th ...

and become the legitimate faction. In October 2014, former leader Mostafa Kavakebian criticized their decision to form a parallel reformist alliance in

2008 2008 was designated as: *International Year of Languages *International Year of Planet Earth *International Year of the Potato *International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...

, but defended their participation in

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

2016 parliamentary election

The front issued a list for the 2016 Iranian legislative election which was 100% overlapping with the

List of Hope Pervasive Coalition of Reformists: The Second Step (), named The List of Hope () by Mohammad Khatami, was the sole coalition and electoral list affiliated with the Iranian reform movement for the 2016 legislative election. The group also endorsed ...

Membership

The front includes minor political parties as well as local parties and less formal groups and organizations. Groups mentioned as members of the alliance by sources include: *Freedom Party () *Iran National Union Party () *Children of Iran Party () *Association for Solidarity of Iran Educators (), founded in 1999 *Iran's Progress Party () *Independent Labour Party () *Political Population of Iran National Power () *Population of Advocates of Law & Order (), founded in 1998 *Population of Followers of Tomorrow () *Society of Lawyers Defending Human Rights (), founded in 1998 *Glorious Iran Party () *Development Pioneers Party () *Kermanshah Province Development Party () *Mahestan Association () *Association of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Youth () *Association of Educators and Graduates of Payame Noor University () *Association of Academics of University of Isfahan () *Assembly of Students and Graduates of Bushehr Province () *Assembly of Students and Graduates of Isfahan Province () *Assembly of Students and Graduates of Golestan Province () *Assembly of Students and Graduates of East Azerbaijan Province () *Assembly of Students and Graduates of Ilam Province () *Association for Graduates of West Azarbaijan (), founded in 1998 *Association for Graduates of Abu Rayhan Al-Biruni (), founded in 1999 *Gilan Popular Participations Party () * Popular Party of Reforms

Former members

* Democracy Party (2000–2014) * Islamic Assembly of Women (2008) ;Former allied groups * National Trust Party (2008) *

(2008) * Worker House (2012)

References

External links

Official website
{{Electoral lists in Iran Political opposition alliances Political party alliances in Iran Reformist political groups in Iran Electoral lists for Iranian legislative election, 2008 Electoral lists for Iranian legislative election, 2012