Iranians are choosing between reformist Pezeshkian and ultra-conservative Jalili. The government has not provided comparative percentages, but has guaranteed a “higher turnout” in the polls compared to the first round.
Iranian authorities said Friday that turnout increased mid-morning in the second round of the presidential election, after the first round saw the lowest number of votes in Iran’s history, with 39.9.
Iranians turn out for more open presidential election than expected
Iranians will vote on Friday between reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, who wants to open up the country, and ultra-conservative Saeed Jalili, an opponent of the West, to succeed President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on May 19.
Iran’s presidential election is due to go to a second round on July 5. Neither candidate received 50% of the vote.
There was a Increase in popular participation compared to the first roundat the moment. We hope that the situation will continue like this and that we will see a good voter turnout,” said the spokesman for the Iranian Election Commission, Mohsen Eslami, in a press conference broadcast on television, without giving comparative percentages.
Ebrahim Raisi: An “unpopular” and “ultra-conservative” president and a helicopter crash that raises doubts about Iran’s future
Earlier in the morning, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed hope that a large number of Iran’s 61 million voters would turn out to vote.
“I heard that enthusiasm has increased among citizens. I hope so. God willing, our beloved people will be able to vote and elect the best,” said the country’s highest political and religious authority.
The Islamic Republic has always attached great importance to influx to the polls as proof of popular support and of legitimacy.
The first round of the presidential election held on June 28 saw the lowest turnout in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with only 39.9% of voters turning out to vote, compared to 48.7% in 2021 and 73% in 2017.
This figure reflects the skepticism and apathy that prevails among the electorate, amid an economy marked by 40% inflation, a devalued rial and 20% unemployment among young people.
Added to this is the disillusionment of many Iranians, especially young people, with the Islamic Republic due to its lack of social freedoms.
Source: Observadora
