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Following the mourning period for President Ebrahim Raisi, who passed away in the recent helicopter crash, Iran has shifted its attention to the upcoming elections next month for his successor. With the conservative camp aiming to install a loyalist to the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei the lead upto the early vote on June 28 has prompted a diverse array of hopefuls from various political factions to enter the fray.
The registration for the candidates (presidential candidates) will start on May 30, 2024. Iranian lawmakers on May 28, 2024, reaffirmed their choice of former Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf as the speaker of the parliament. Qalibaf has been touted as the potential candidate in the presidential race by insiders and Iranian media.
Ultraconservative Raisi, who had over a year remaining in his first term passed away on May 19, 2024 in a helicopter crash along with his foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollah and six others. The accident occurred when their helicopter collided with a fog covered mountainside. Meanwhile, they were honoured with multiday funeral ceremonies which drew large crowds of mourners.
The June elections is scheduled during a turbulent period marked by the ongoing Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas a Palestinian militant group backed by Tehran. This comes amidst ongoing diplomatic tensions regarding Iran’s nuclear program. Additionally, the Iran is grappling with significant economic challenges exacerbated by the re-imposition of tough international sanctions following the US withdrawal from the 2015 Nuclear Deal alongside aftermaths of widespread anti-government protests.
Khamenei who has ultimate authorities over state matters has tasked Raisi’s vice president Mohammed Mokhber aged 68 with overseeing interim responsibilities and organizing the June election, a media agency reported. Media reports say that Mokhber, Parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf and several prominent former officials plan to run from Israel’s second highest post.
Among the array of contenders’ ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili emerged as one of the most initial candidates to declare his bid for the presidency. Other notable hopefuls include moderate former foreign minister Mohammed Javad Sharif and centrist Ali Larijani who previously held the position of parliament speaker.
As reported by a media agency, Populist ex-president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad has so far kept voters guessing and said he is checking the conditions to decide where to register. Political expert Abbas Abdi told a newspaper media that if Iran’s protesting community sees an opportunity for change it will show its protest, activism and responsibility thorough participating in the election. He said that he was sure that the reformist will win a huge margin only if they are allowed to participate, a major concern after many candidates were disqualified ahead of recent elections.
Abdi Added that if the authorities permit a broad spectrum of candidates to run this time, it will create the necessary hope in the people and lead to higher participation. Under Iran’s election rules, candidates will have a designated period commencing on May 30 to officially register their candidacy. However, the final roster hinges on the validation process conducted by the conservative leaning Guardian Council, following the June 3 registration deadline.
This 12-member body, responsible for supervising elections, has previously disqualified numerous candidates, including figures like Ahmadinejad and Larijani. Recent parliamentary and presidential elections have witnessed a decline in voter turnout despite governmental efforts to incentivize participation.
Before Iran’s parliamentary elections on March 1, the Guardian Council has invalidated tens of thousands of candidates, predominantly from reformist and moderate factions. This vetting process effectively consolidated the influence of conservative and ultraconservative politicians in Iran’s political landscape. The March legislative election recorded the lowest voter turnout since 1979.
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