Massud Peseshkian wins presidential election in Iran
Massud Peseschkian is the new Iranian President. The moderate candidate wins the runoff election against hardliner Said Jalili. Due to low voter turnout, polling stations were extended several times.
The moderate politician Massud Peseschkian has won the presidential election in Iran in the second round. This was announced by the spokesperson of the election commission on TV in the morning. Peseschkian therefore received 53.7 percent, his ultra-conservative challenger Said Jalili received 44.3 percent of the votes. The voter turnout was reported by the election commission to be 49.8 percent.
Approximately 61 million people were called upon to vote between Peseschkian and Jalili on Friday. The election was brought forward following the death of incumbent Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May. Polling stations were still open late into the evening due to multiple extensions granted by the Interior Ministry.
Of the 80 candidates, the so-called Guardian Council, a powerful Islamic oversight body, only approved six as candidates. Two of these withdrew before the first round of voting. In contrast to many other countries, the President in Iran is not the head of state. The real power lies with the Religious Leader Khamenei.
Moderate, but loyal to the system
Peseschkian is 69 years old and hails from the northwest. During the First Gulf War with neighboring Iraq, he pursued a medical degree and served at the front. After the war, he continued his medical career and rose to prominence as a heart surgeon in the million-metropolis Tabriz. In his campaign, the previously unremarkable politician called for renewed trust between the government and the people, who are disillusioned with politics following failed reform attempts, political repression, and an economic crisis.
Like many reformist politicians, he advocated for improved relations with the West to open up the economy and revive it. During the second presidency of Mohammad Khatami (2001-2005), Peseschkian gained government experience as Health Minister. Despite his moderate words, he is seen as a man of the system, having backed the powerful Revolutionary Guards and praised the drone and rocket attack on Israel. In TV debates, he described himself as a value-conservative politician who, however, believes reforms are necessary.
Many Iranians and Iranians are disillusioned
According to official data, voter turnout in the first round on the previous Friday reached a record low of around 40 percent. This reflects the widespread disillusionment, particularly among the younger generation, who have lost faith in major domestic political changes. The death of the young Kurdish woman Jina Masa Amini in the fall of 2022 sparked nationwide protests against the Islamic ruling system.
Iran's political system combines republican and theocratic elements since the 1979 Revolution. Free elections do not exist: The Guardian Council always vets candidates. Criticism of the system is not tolerated, as the suppression of protests in recent years demonstrated. Therefore, significant changes can also not be expected from reformist candidates.
- Despite his moderate stance during the presidential election, Massud Peseschkian is recognized as a loyal supporter of the system, having previously praised the Revolutionary Guards and supported their actions against Israel.
- The victory of moderate candidate Massud Peseschkian in the presidential election was significant, as he is seen as a value-conservative politician who advocates for reforms, aligning him with reformer Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and former President Mohammad Khatami.
- The hardliner Said Jalili, who lost to Peseschkian in the presidential election, is often associated with former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a known hardliner and critic of the West, reflecting the ideological divide within Iran's political landscape.
