Reform candidate Massoud Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old MP advocating for Iran to open to the West, won the second round of the presidential election on Saturday, July 6. This election, hastily organized after the death of President Ebrahim Raïssi in a helicopter accident in May, occurred amidst popular discontent, particularly due to the economy hit by international sanctions.
Massoud Pezeshkian secured more than 16 million votes against over 13 million for his ultraconservative opponent, Saïd Jalili, out of a total of 30 million ballots already counted. Participation stood at 49.8%, with more than 600,000 invalid ballots. In his victory speech, Pezeshkian extended a hand of friendship to all Iranians, emphasizing the need for 'constructive relations' with Washington and European countries to 'get Iran out of its isolation.'
Pezeshkian, who raised three children alone after a tragic car accident in 1993, positions himself as the 'voice of the voiceless.' His campaign was closely followed internationally, given Iran's central role in several geopolitical crises, from the war in Gaza to the nuclear issue. Pezeshkian advocates for an Iran more open to the West, while his opponent Jalili is known for his inflexible stance against Western powers.
Pezeshkian's victory was supported by former presidents Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani. Despite calls for a boycott by opposition figures, some voters, like Hossein and Farzad, chose Pezeshkian to prevent radicals from gaining power. Pezeshkian also calls for resolving the issue of the compulsory veil for women, a significant cause of protests in 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini.
The election had limited repercussions as the president in Iran has restricted powers, primarily implementing the political lines set by the supreme guide, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Guardian Council had only approved six candidates out of 80 applicants, with two withdrawing before the first vote. The council ensures candidates' ideological suitability, reflecting the combination of republican and theocratic elements in Iran's political system since the 1979 revolution.
- The early election was necessitated by the untimely death of incumbent President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May. The polling stations remained open until late in the evening after several extensions by the Interior Ministry.
- The reform candidate Massoud Pezeshkian, hailing from northwest Iran, campaigned for new trust between the government and the people. His victory reflects a desire among many Iranians for improved relations with the West and a departure from the hardline policies of his opponent, Saïd Jalili.
- Jalili, a member of the inner circle of power and former chief negotiator in the nuclear talks under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, enjoys broad support from radical and loyal system supporters. He is seen as an iron advocate of the Islamic Revolution's ideology.
- Voter turnout in the first round was a record low of around 40%, reflecting widespread disappointment, especially among the younger generation. The death of Jina Masa Amini in 2022 had sparked nationwide protests against the Islamic system of rule, highlighting the deep-seated frustrations within the country.
