Iran Holds Early Presidential Election Amid Economic and Political Turmoil
Image Credits: Arash Khamooshi, The New York Times
Since the 1988 constitutional reform which abolished the Prime Minister post and elevated the presidency in Iran, this will be the first time that elections are being held ahead of schedule. This election comes at a time when Iran is facing severe economic sanctions and international pressure because of its nuclear program and allegedly its hand in weaponising Houthi revolutionaries and Hezbollah. Iranians are divided among themselves over whether voting will address pressing economic issues and mandatory hijab laws.
Six candidates are facing each other in this heated election, five conservative and one reformist. The sole reformist candidate is Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, who comes from the Azeri minority ethnic group. He was trained as a cardiac surgeon and served in Parliament as the health minister.
Experts say his inclusion is most likely part of the government’s plan to increase voter turnout, which it views as a way to increase the election’s legitimacy and potentially bring the reformist party back to the polls after it boycotted parliamentary elections in March. Others on the list are Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, a hardline parliament speaker and former Revolutionary Guards commander. He is the most prominent candidate.
Saeed Jalili, ultra-conservative former chief nuclear negotiator who ran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s office for four years. Alireza Zakani, Tehran’s conservative mayor. Mostafa Pourmohammadi, conservative former interior and justice minister. Amirhossein Ghazizadeh-Hashemi, current vice-president and ultraconservative head of the Martyrs’ Foundation.
Iranian elections are not considered free or fair by most Western standards or human rights organizations. Presidential candidates are stringently vetted by the Guardian Council, a committee of 12 jurists and clerics. Let’s see how this time the election in Iran may change the living standard and reduce economic instability there. As the election is on 28th June, all the major superpowers of the world are keeping an eye to see how it would impact their foreign policy towards Iran.
Team Profile
- Freelance Journalist
- Kumar Tushar Singh is a skilled content writer with a robust background in finance and a deep understanding of political affairs. Having served as a content writer intern at a notable NGO, Kumar has honed his ability to create insightful and impactful content. His financial expertise, combined with strong research skills, enables him to produce well-informed financial articles and reports. Kumar's dedication to excellence and his versatile writing capabilities make him a valuable asset in any content creation role.
Latest entries
News23 February 2025UGC NET 2024 Result Declared; Check Your Scores Now
News23 February 2025Bihar Class 10 Student Buys Gun with Stock Market Earnings, Kills One in Revenge Shooting
News27 January 2025NCTE to Reintroduce One-Year B.Ed. Program
News19 January 2025The CPC Unveiled a Strong Blueprint for Education System in China by 2035
