3/7/2024–|Last Updated: 7/3/202401:46 PM (Makkah Time)
Iran will vote in a second round of presidential elections the day after tomorrow, Friday, in which a reformist candidate who openly supports the West will face a conservative who was a former negotiator on the nuclear file.
Reformist M.P. Masoud Besheshkian (age 69), an open call to the West, and conservative Sayed Jalili (age 58), a former nuclear negotiator known for his uncompromising stances on confrontation, are running for president. Western powers.
During the first round of elections, Bezheshkian received 42.4% of the vote, compared to Jalili’s 38.6%, with another governor, Muhammad Bagher Ghalibaf, coming in third.
The second session will be closely followed abroad, as Iran – a powerful force in the Middle East – is at the heart of several geopolitical crises, from the war in Gaza to the nuclear file, which is a source of disagreement between Tehran and Tehran. West for many years.
The elections, which took place on June 28, were hastily organized to elect a president to replace Ibrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on May 19.
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Pezeshkian is a surgeon of the former reformist President Mohammad Khatami and a representative of the big city (Northwest) and has limited experience in government work, between 2001 and 2005 for the post of Minister of Health of Khatami. Government.
He became known for his outspokenness as he did not hesitate to criticize the authorities during the nationwide protest movement after the death of young woman Mahza Amini in September 2022, after she was arrested by the “moral police”. Because of her failure to dress modestly in Tehran.
During a televised debate Monday evening, the two contenders discussed, among other issues, economic issues, international relations, low voter turnout and government restrictions on the Internet.
“People are dissatisfied with us,” Beseshkian said, particularly because of the lack of representation of women and religious and ethnic minorities in politics.
He added, “When 60% of people don’t participate (in elections), it means there is a problem in the government”.
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As for Bezeshkian’s rival, he was a negotiator on the nuclear file between 2007 and 2013 and strongly opposed the deal that was eventually struck with major powers, including the United States, that imposed restrictions on the country’s nuclear activities in exchange for easing sanctions. .
During the debate, Jalili expressed his concern about the low participation, but without blaming the officials.
On the economic front, Jalili said his government could achieve 8% growth between March 2023 and March 2024, compared to 5.7% growth.
During the debate, Jalili stated his position against any reconciliation with the West.
On the other hand, Pezeshkian announced that one of his government’s priorities would be to reactivate the deal, which has been frozen since Washington’s exit in 2018 – in a unilateral move by reimposing economic sanctions.
In parallel, opposition parties at home and in the diaspora called for a boycott of the election, considering the conservative and reformist camps to be two sides of the same coin.
Whatever the outcome of the election, it will have limited impact on the direction of the country as the president’s powers are not extensive. The revolutionary leader has the primary responsibility for governing Iran, while the president, as head of his government, is responsible for implementing the broad political policies set by the leader.
