Iranian voters displayed their dissatisfaction with Iran’s clerical rule system in the recent presidential election, as they participated in record-low numbers. This led to two establishment candidates advancing to a runoff.
Upcoming Runoff
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The upcoming runoff on July 5 will feature a choice between Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist former health minister, and Saeed Jalili, an ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator. Neither candidate secured the required 50% of votes to win outright.
Continued Establishment Influence
Regardless of the runoff outcome, major changes in Iran are not anticipated, as both candidates will need to govern under the ultimate authority of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Key Takeaways
- Low Voter Turnout: Only 40% of eligible Iranians participated in the election, marking a historic low turnout. This reflects a growing trend of Iranians abstaining from voting as a form of protest against the ruling establishment.
- Citizens’ Discontent: The declining voter turnout is a clear indication of public dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of economic issues, lack of freedoms, and international isolation.
- 2013 Election Comparison: In the 2013 election, many urban, middle-class Iranians supported reformist candidate Hassan Rouhani in hopes of economic prosperity and social liberalization.
