Iran holds second round of snap presidential elections

On Friday, July 5, Iran will hold the second round of early presidential elections, called after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a plane crash on May 19.

In the first round, which took place on June 28, two candidates won: Masoud Pezeshkian, considered a reformer (he received about 42% of the votes) and conservative Said Jalili, the spiritual leader’s representative in the Security Council of the Islamic Republic (he received about 39% of the votes).

Officially, the turnout in the first round of elections was 40%, the lowest in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran. However, the Iranian opposition expressed justified doubts about the real turnout data being published. According to one version, based on an analysis of the official figures, the real turnout could have been three times lower.

The conservative has a better chance in the second round, since voters who supported three conservative politicians on June 28 have no other candidate. But much will depend on turnout. The very fact that Pezeschkian had a better showing in the first round could have encouraged voters who were ready to cast their ballots for the reformer.

The president of Iran is formally considered the head of state. But in reality, the country is ruled by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei.