The sole reformist in Iran's presidential election, Masoud Pezeshkian, will face the ultraconservative Saeed Jalili in a runoff, authorities announced on Saturday, following a vote marred by historically low turnout.
Pezeshkian, 69, secured 42.4 percent of the vote, while Jalili, a 58-year-old former nuclear negotiator, came second with 38.6 percent, according to voting figures announced by the elections authority.
Pezeshkian is on record as in favour of better and cooperative relations with the West.
After the early results came out, Pezeshkian thanked his supporters, urging them to go hard next Friday “to save the nation from poverty, lies, discrimination and injustice”.
Pezeshkian, who is from an Azeri ethnic minority and supports the rights of ethnic minorities, demands the implementation of Article 15 of the Iranian Constitution for all ethnicities, particularly teaching of Azerbaijani language in Iranian schools.
Historic Low Turnout:
The election saw only 40% of eligible voters participating, the lowest turnout in the history of the Islamic Republic. Despite extensive efforts and widespread propaganda by the government to mobilize voters, many Iranians boycotted the election, reflecting a growing disillusionment with the political system.
The Ministry of Interior reported that more than 24 million votes were cast out of the 61.5 million eligible voters.
Candidates and Results:
- Masoud Pezeshkian: Reformist candidate who advocates for more engagement with the West. He received 42.4% of the votes.
- Saeed Jalili: Ultraright conservative and former nuclear negotiator. He received 38.6% of the votes.
- Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf: Conservative parliament speaker, secured 13.8%.
- Mostafa Pourmohammadi: Conservative cleric, got less than 1%.
Runoff Election:
As no candidate secured more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election will be held on July 5. The competition between Pezeshkian and Jalili presents a stark choice for Iranians between a reformist approach and a hardline stance.
Low Engagement and Public Sentiment:
The historically low turnout has been attributed to widespread dissatisfaction with the regime and the limited choice of candidates. Many Iranians, including political prisoners and civil activists, had declared their refusal to participate in what they termed as "governmental appointments" and the "circus of elections." Reports from social media users and images from Iran indicated minimal participation, with 77% of eligible voters in Greater Tehran abstaining from the vote.
Key Issues and Campaigns:
- Pezeshkian's Platform: Advocates for resuming nuclear talks with Western powers to lift international sanctions. He has criticized the country's economic mismanagement and emphasized the need for pragmatic foreign policy.
- Jalili's Platform: Opposes compromise on Iran's nuclear program and advocates for a harsher stance against the West. He promises to tackle inflation and boost economic growth.
Background Context:
The election follows the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash last month. Raisi, a hardline cleric, was viewed as a contender to succeed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The election is seen as an informal referendum on the Iranian regime, two years after widespread protests calling for its downfall were violently suppressed.
The upcoming runoff on July 5 will be crucial in determining the direction of Iran's future policies, both domestically and internationally. With such low initial turnout, the engagement level in the runoff will be closely watched as an indicator of public sentiment and legitimacy of the election process.
