In its editorial, the French daily Le Figaro stressed that the recent elections in Iran had led a parliament which gave Ahmadinejad’s policies security and political cover and such and issue would have bad and unpleasant outcomes.

The editorial reads: In a scrappy system like the Iranian government the number one person i.e. Khamenei would ultimately say the last word and would select a candidate who could better protect the Islamic system; coming Ahmadinejad to power has caused more influence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

Referring to isolation of the clerical regime among the Iranian people, Le Figaro added: The Islamic Revolution doesn’t anymore excite the people; structural and security guarantees still prevent a real opposition force to be able to raise its voice.