Following the presidential elections in Iran, centrist Masoud Pezeshkian emerged victorious and defeated challenger and hardliner Saeed Jalili. Pezeshkian is a seasoned lawmaker, reformist, and cardiac surgeon. His win in the presidential elections has been viewed as a call for change and a promise of a shift towards more reformist and pragmatic policies, as citizens in Iran were not satisfied with the hardline policies before.
The Poll Saw The Lowest Turnout Of Voters Since 1979
Presidential elections in Iran took place following former President Ebrahim Raisi’s demise due to a helicopter clash on May 19. Although only 39.92 percent of all eligible voters took part in voting, suggesting that the poll witnessed the lowest turnout of voters since the 1979 Islamic revolution. The elections were also held amid regional tensions following Iran’s first direct attack on Israel in the middle of its escalating aggression with Gaza. Upon the declaration of Pezeshkian’s victory, supporters were seen celebrating in the streets.
Voters Lose Faith In The Elections, 60% Voters Absent
Masoud being the sole moderate candidate in the race, won 53.7% of the votes, or 16.3 million of all 30 million votes cast. His opposition Saeed Jalili received 44.3% votes, or 13.5 million votes. The second round of voting ballad was on Friday, July 5 which saw a historically low turnout as almost 60 percent of all voters did not cast votes to elect a successor to Ebrahim Raisi. State televisions showed polling booths with modest lines while some polling centres were empty. Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar reported that about 50 percent of all voters did not cast votes because they did not have faith in the elections bringing in any change for them, whether the leader was conservative or reformist.
World Leaders Congratulate Pezeshkian On His Win
The country’s ninth elected president Pezeshkian is expected to assume his duties in the next 30 days. He will be officially endorsed by the supreme leader of Iraq, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a ceremony, before he is sworn in the parliament. World leaders including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman congratulated Masoud Prezeshkian on his victory. World leaders from other countries including, Iraq, Azerbaijan, China, Pakistan, Venezuela, Kuwait, Syria, Qatar, and Belarus also lauded Pezeshkian’s win.