Iranians go to polls to elect new president after Ebrahim Raisi’s death

by Parisa Hafezi

DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranians go to the polls on Friday for a presidential election held after the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash last month.

The outcome of the election is expected to have little political impact but could affect the succession of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The 85-year-old Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution called for “maximum” participation to stem a crisis of legitimacy fueled by popular discontent over economic hardship and restrictions on political and social freedoms.

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Voter turnout has declined in Iran over the past four years as young Iranians revolt against political and social restrictions.

Polling stations will open at 08:00 local time (04:30 GMT) and close at 18:00 (14:30 GMT), opening hours that are usually extended until midnight.

Final results are expected in two days, with ballots being counted by hand.

Only four candidates are in the running to succeed Ebrahim Raisi after two of those approved by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Council withdrew their candidacies.

If none of them obtains at least 50% of the votes, a second round will be organized between the two candidates who came out on top in the first round on the Friday following the proclamation of the election result.

In Iran’s theocratic system, the president manages the day-to-day affairs of government while major decisions are made by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, who has the final say on nuclear issues and foreign policy, for example.

(Parisa Hafezi; French version Camille Raynaud)