Reformists Front


Reformists Front, formerly called Democracy Front and Front for Consolidation of Democracy, is an Iranian reformist political alliance 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 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 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 and become the legitimate faction. In October 2014, former leader Mostafa Kavakebian criticized their decision to form a parallel reformist alliance in 2008, but defended their participation in 2012.

2016 parliamentary election

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

2025-2026 Iranian protests

According to Iran International, amid concerns over the collapse of the Islamic Republic and the fall of Ali Khamenei, in addition to the increasing number of protesters killed by security forces during the 2025-2026 Iranian protests, the Central Council of the Iranian Reform Front held an emergency meeting behind closed doors, at the conclusion of which a statement was drafted, calling for the resignation of Khamenei and the transmission of state control to a "transitional council". However, upon learning of the statement, security forces issued "heavy and blatant" threats to the leaders of the alliance as well as warnings of widespread arrests, and the statement was withdrawn. On 25 January, Front spokesman Mohammad Javad Emam stated: "Today, more than ever, reformists must stand with the people, because the status quo can no longer be approved or justified." On 30 January, the Front threatened to suspend its activities if the authorities refused to listen to the demands of protesters.

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:
;Former allied groups