Glistener: The Latest from Iran (21 February): Please Vote

0615 GMT: Rafsanjani Watch. He may have left office 15 years ago, but former President Hashemi Rafsanjani has been a central figure (see 0550 GMT) in many of the campaign debates.

Alireza Mahjoub, the head of the pro-reform Workers House, responded to criticism of Rafsanjani by the pro-Ahmadinejad Ghasem Ravanbakhsh: "He’s part of the history of the revolution. If you have a criticism about him, why don’t you let him know? You make [your criticism[ public with no supporting evidence, and when you have made it public, you don’t allow him to defend himself."

Referring to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's notable allegation in the 2009 Presidential election of Rafsanjani's corruption, Mahjoub pressed Ravanbakhsh, "It seems you have the same mindset as Ahmadinejad and think that you can justify yourself by accusing Hashemi."

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Reza Bahonar also used Rafsanjani to aim at the current President's men. He declared that the Unity Front does not belong to Rafsanjani and criticised the members of the pro-Ahmadinejad Resistance Front "who are trying to mislead people to believe the opposite". He said, "Unfortunately Ahmadinejad and the Resistance Front always think that, to gain people’s votes, there should be a game between Ahmadinejad and Hashemi."

Bahonar, complaining that Ahmadiejad had ignored Parliament, asserted, "The problem with Ahmadinejad is that he likes to work with people who are always confirming him and never criticise him. Consequently, anyone who criticise he will be replaced. Unfortunately, he does not pay attention to the advice of others."

0550 GMT: Amidst economic concerns and reports of resignation after 32 months of repression and political conflict, it is uncertain how many Iranians will turn out for the Parliamentary elections on 2 March, but no one can deny the regime's efforts to get them to the ballot box.

On Monday, Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani and Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi --- who head the rival conservative/principlist factions, the Unity Front and the Islamic Constancy Front --- even joined hands in an announcement asking people to participate in high numbers.

And in a moment reminiscent of the lively days before the 2009 Presidential election, MP Ali Motahari, the leader of a breakaway principlist group, debated Merhdad Bazrpash of the pro-Ahmadinejad Resistance Front at a Tehran university.

Motahari argued that the purpose of the Parliament is to prevent dictatorship of the Government and its violation of the law. He added that MPs should be free and independent, taking no support from the Government.

Bazrpash chided Motahari for setting up a faction "when he realised no other party wants him as a member". He then criticised his rival for defending Sayed Hasan Khomeini, the grandson of the late Ayatollah; activist Faezeh Hashemi; and her father, former President Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Motahari not only maintained his defence but went farther. Supporting Rafsanjani's letter to the Supreme Leader, which warned of manipulation of the 2009 Presidential election, he said that Rafsanjani's July 2009 Tehran Friday Prayer --- his last appearance on the podium and a high-water mark for the Green Movement --- was "correct".

As for Ahmadinejad, Motahari told Bazrpash, with reference to the $2.6 billion bank fraud, "You and your friend have stolen 3000 billion Toman.”