Iran elects a new president
Iran is electing a new president on this Friday. Around 61 million women and men have been called upon to choose a successor for the late Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter accident. In contrast to many countries in the world, Iran's president is not the head of state. The real power lies with Religious Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Guardian Council, an Islamic oversight body, had only allowed six candidates for the election. Two candidates have already withdrawn their candidacy.
The best chances have the hardliner Said Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator, as well as the incumbent parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and challenger Massud Peseschkian from the camp of reformist politicians. If none of the candidates achieves an absolute majority, a runoff will take place on July 5.
The polling stations are open from 8:00 to 18:00 local time (6:30 to 16:30 CEST) with the possibility of extension. The first results are expected on Saturday.
The upcoming presidential elections in Iran on Friday will see several candidates vying for the role, including former nuclear negotiator Said Jalili, incumbent parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and reformist politician Massud Peseschkian. Despite Iran's president not being the head of state, this role is significant, as observed in the recent Presidential elections.
