The Supreme Leader's View of Reforms

The Supreme Leader's View of Reforms
26/07/2008

The Supreme Leader's View of Reforms

Reforms are a must for all governments. Reforms are one of the most crucial needs of all communities. We are no exception in this regard. Reforms require that we list the positive and negative points and try to turn weaknesses into strengths. This conception of reforms is revolutionary and Islamic. Of course, the enemies of this government and this Revolution have focused their efforts on changing the basic structure of our government. In their view, reforms boil down to changing the entire government and turning the Islamic Republic into a dependant and compliant government. Reforms, in the true sense of the word, apply to all government organs. No government department must be immune from criticism and consider itself flawless. All the government departments of the country must be subjected to fair criticism, and they must all improve their performance in accordance with the goals of the government and within its framework.

Reforms are necessary and must be implemented in our country. However, these reforms are not the result of an emergency. We are not like a ruler who is under the pressure of public demands and who is forced to adopt reforms here and there. On the contrary, reforms are part and parcel of the nature of our government's revolutionary and religious identity. If reforms are not carried out on a regular basis, any government will become corrupt. Reforms are a [religious] obligation.

Reforms are of two kinds. They are either revolutionary, Islamic, and faith-based - which has the consensus of all government officials, all the people, and all analysts - or American. All government officials, all faithful people, and all our vigilant compatriots are opposed to the latter type of reforms. The reforms that the Americans intend to implement in our country are the same as corruption. From an American perspective, reforms are equivalent to the annihilation of the Islamic Republic.

The only thing that these superpowers pursue is their own interests. They just pretend to support the reform slogans. They would not advocate genuine reforms. They are opposed to true reforms in this country.

Fighting poverty, corruption, and discrimination forms the basis of reforms. All types of reforms - if they are genuine reforms - revolve around this. The widening of the gap between the haves and the have-nots is among the worst kinds of corruption in society. The worst kinds of corruption in society arise when some people are afflicted with financial corruption and misappropriate government funds in order to line their own pockets. The worst kinds of corruption occur when there is discrimination in enforcing laws in society and when the merits and qualifications of individuals are disregarded. That is the same as the issue of poverty, corruption, and discrimination which I have constantly talked about.

The first step towards reforms is to reform ourselves. In other words, government officials must abstain from non-Islamic approaches, characteristics, and behavior. If this is done as a preliminary step, then it will be possible to improve other things.

Unless reforms, progress, and innovation are based upon revolutionary values, members of society will be frustrated. This is what I referred to as a basic principle. We must not compromise our values. We must not at all discriminate in favor of some people when it comes to values. We must make serious efforts to transform and make progress within the framework of our values.

We must have a clear definition of reforms. First of all they must be clearly defined to ourselves so that we know what we are going to do. Second, the people must be presented with a clear definition of reforms so as to prevent multiple interpretations on the part of vested interests. Therefore, unless there is a clear definition of what reforms mean, patterns of reform will be imposed on us.

Reforms have to be managed from an authoritative and self-disciplined center. There are many things that could be carried out appropriately in ten years' time. But if you decide to do the same things in a matter of two years, this would result in irrevocable consequences.

The next point is that we must uphold the constitutional laws in the course of implementing reforms. Of course, the constitution is mainly based upon Islam and its role as the source of laws, frameworks, and selection criteria. The constitutional structures must be carefully observed. The constitution represents our great national, religious, and revolutionary alliance.

Reforms are being implemented laboriously and in a complicated manner in some sectors. For instance, fair distribution of incomes in the economic sector is a case in point. Eradicating poverty, improving the conditions of underprivileged areas, and reforming the bureaucratic system all require reforms.

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