Iran has opened the registration of presidential candidates
On May 29, Iran began the official registration of presidential candidates for the early vote to be held on June 28 to replace Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash.
Iran has opened the registration of presidential candidates
Geurasia

Iran has opened the registration of presidential candidates

Saeed Jalili former Iranian deputy foreign minister. Photo: Morteza Nikoubaz/NurPhoto/AFP
Meszár Tárik 03/06/2024 22:28

On May 29, Iran began the official registration of presidential candidates for the early vote to be held on June 28 to replace Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash.

The world was shocked by the death of the Iranian president. Many people are afraid of chaos. So, it is no coincidence that they want to replace the tragically deceased president as quickly as possible. The Iranian constitution also ensures that a power vacuum is avoided, as the rules stipulate that new elections must be held within 50 days of the death or incapacity of the president.

The presidential election process

In Iran, the presidential election process consists of several steps, with the Guardian Council playing a particularly important role. Presidential candidates must first register and then undergo a strict vetting process. The Guardian Council, which consists of 12 members, checks and assesses the suitability of the candidates. It decides which candidates meet the religious, political and moral requirements. Candidates who are approved to run can take part in the election campaign and be elected by the voters. The Council therefore plays a key role in the presidential elections, as it determines who is allowed to run for office.
Mostafa Kavakebian. Photo: Morteza Nikoubaz/NurPhoto/AFP
Information about the upcoming election

“The registration of candidates for the 14th presidential elections began at 8 in the morning at the Interior Ministry,” the official IRNA news agency reported. The presidential candidates have five days to register, IRNA added. The Iranian Interior Ministry expects a voter turnout of 70 percent, it added.

The elections were originally scheduled for 2025, but were brought forward after the unexpected death of Raisi on May 19. Raisi and seven members of his entourage were killed when their plane crashed in northern Iran. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei, appointed the Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as interim president in accordance with the constitution.

According to Iranian electoral law, candidates must be between 40 and 75 years old and have at least a master’s degree. The final list of candidates will be announced on June 11 by the so-called Guardian Council. This Council had excluded several reform-oriented and moderate figures before the 2021 presidential election, which brought the ultra-conservative Raisi to power.
Zohreh Elahian. Photo: Morteza Nikoubaz/NurPhoto/AFP
Possible candidates

Iranian state television reported that “about 30” have officially nominated themselves, but so far ‘none of them have met the basic criteria for qualification’.
According to the sources, former Reform Party MP Mostafa Kavakebian and incumbent conservative MP Mohammadreza Sabbaghian have submitted their applications to the ministry. Interestingly, a female candidate, Zohreh Elahian, has also nominated herself.

Later, state television showed how the former deputy foreign minister and nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, who is known for his rigid negotiating stance, also registered. Jalili, a 58-year-old ultra-conservative, strongly condemned the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. He said it “violated the Islamic Republic’s red lines” by accepting “unusual inspections” of nuclear facilities.

As in previous election cycles, the main candidates from Iran’s leading political camps are expected to submit their candidacies towards the end of the registration process. The elections in June are taking place at an extremely turbulent time. After the war between Hamas and Israel that broke out on October 7 last year, a chaotic situation arose in the Middle East and even Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel.
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