TEHRAN – With the list of “eligible” candidates for the presidential election now officially published, Iran is expected to enter a period of heated political debate culminating in the election of a new government later this month.
After a week of intensive deliberations, the Oversight Council, the body that vets presidential candidates, sent a final list of approved candidates to the Interior Ministry for publication.
The list included six political heavyweights: Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibah, Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakhani, Representative of the Leader of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, former Minister of Justice Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Director of the Martyrs and Veterans Affairs Foundation Amirhossein Ghazizadeh, and Parliament member Massoud Pezeshkian.
The candidates have now been allowed to officially begin campaigning across Iran in preparation for election day on June 28.
Over the past six days, more than 80 politicians have appeared at the Ministry of Interior to announce their candidacy for the presidency, as the nation waits with bated breath to see who will be the final presidential candidate. Over the past six days, more than 80 politicians have appeared at the Ministry of Interior to announce their candidacy for the presidency, as the nation waits with bated breath to see who will be the final presidential candidate. The Guardian Council approved six candidates, rejecting the candidacies of such notables as Ali Larijani and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as well as several ministers from Raisi's government.
The upcoming presidential elections follow the untimely deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, as well as their security forces and local officials, in a tragic helicopter crash in northwestern Iran on May 19. According to Iranian law, in the event of the death or absence of a president, presidential elections must be held promptly within 50 days.
Shortly before the announcement of the winning candidate, Iranian social media platforms were rife with speculation about the final candidates, leading the Constitutional Council to issue a warning against spreading inaccurate claims in this regard. This election fever highlighted the strength of public anxiety about the election.
Shortly after the final list of candidates was announced, Iranian media outlets and social media platforms were flooded with analysis and predictions about which candidate was most likely to become president.
While Mr Qalibaf is widely seen as the leading candidate, Dr Pezeshkian could become a surprise electoral phenomenon, given his full support from reformists and his grassroots popularity among Iranian Azerbaijanis.
Besides the expected winners, the list of candidates approved by the Guardian Council also gives us a glimpse into the political landscape in Iran. First, the list includes representatives of almost all political factions, which will usher in an era of fierce competition. Reformists and moderates will throw all their efforts at Dr. Pezeshkian, the only reformist whose name appears on the ballot. Meanwhile, conservatives led by Qalibaf will do everything in their power to mobilize their ever-ready support base to block any reformist comeback.
Which brings me to my second point: Iran's electoral landscape is anything but dull and boring. The upcoming elections are expected to see a higher voter turnout than in recent elections. According to some estimates, the tragic death of President Raisi and his aides, combined with a renewed trust in institutional mechanisms for improved governance, have encouraged Iranians from all walks of life to consider participating in the upcoming elections.
