Iranians vote to choose successor to president who died in helicopter crash

Polling stations opened at 8am and television images showed long lines of people waiting to vote in several cities across Iran. More than 61 million people are eligible to vote for the president.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei votes in Tehran on June 28.

Polling stations will close at 6 p.m. Iran’s Interior Ministry announced on June 9 that six candidates were eligible to run after being approved by the Guardian Council from among 80 applicants. Two candidates later withdrew.

The four remaining candidates include Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, former head of the nuclear negotiation delegation Saeed Jalili, MP Massoud Pezeshkian and former Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi.

All four have vowed to revive the economy, but Mr. Pezeshkian is seen as the most moderate of the bunch, advocating détente with the West, social liberalization and political pluralism.

Preliminary results may gradually emerge on June 29, but official results are expected to be announced only two days after the election.

If no candidate wins a majority of the votes, a runoff election will take place between the two people with the most votes on the first Friday after the results are announced.

In 2021, only 48% of voters participated in the vote while the turnout rate fell to a record low of 41% in the parliamentary election three months ago.

An Iranian woman in Kuwait casts her vote for president at the Iranian embassy in Kuwait on June 28.

The election is unlikely to bring major changes in Iran's policy but the result could influence the succession of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 85, who has held that position since 1989.

According to AFP, Mr Khamenei voted immediately after the polls opened. "Election Day is a day of joy and happiness for the Iranian people. We encourage our dear people to take voting seriously and participate," he said.

This week, the leader stressed that the most qualified candidate must be someone who truly believes in the principles of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He said the next president must help Iran develop without being dependent on foreign countries, although he added that Iran should not cut off ties with the world.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguoi-iran-di-bau-cu-thay-tong-thong-qua-doi-do-roi-truc-thang-185240628161956547.htm