A second revolution in Iran?

In giving the majority of its votes to the reform candidates, the Iranian electorate has re-established hope. Nobody, neither in Tehran nor in any other country, has too many illusions as to the scope and especially the speed of the changes that are going to be brought in. The scope will be without doubt limited and change will happen progressively.

The conservatives, although largely rejected by the Iranian society, keep almost absolute control of the justice system, of the army and the forces of repression. They are not going to let go without a fight.

The reformists' victory is, however, a considerable event. It was made possible thanks to the alliance of the living forces of the nation, first of all young people, women and the intellectuals. The electoral wave that just swept the country is without ambiguity. It carries within it the demand for liberty, democracy, equality and, to a lesser degree, a certain form of secular society.

What just happened isn't a simple political changeover. It is, like they're starting to say a lot in Iran, a second revolution.

-- France-Soir, Paris