shot-button
Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesh Chaturthi
Home > News > World News > Article > A hardliner and a reformist face off in Irans two candidate elections

A hardliner and a reformist face off in Iran’s two candidate elections

Updated on: 30 June,2024 08:29 AM IST  |  Dubai
Agencies |

According to Iranian law, a winner must get more than 50 per cent of all votes cast.

A hardliner and a reformist face off in Iran’s two candidate elections

Press conference held in ministry building after vote count. Pics/Getty Images

Iran will hold a runoff presidential election to replace the late hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi with reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian,  an official said on Saturday after an initial vote showed the lowest-ever poll turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history.


As per the election spokesman, Mohsen Eslami’s announcement in the Iranian state’s television conference, more than 60 per cent  of voters cast no ballot in the race that saw reformist Masoud Pezeshkian (secured 10.4 million votes) perform better than Saeed Jalili (9.4 million), who competed alongside two other hard-liners. 


According to Iranian law, a winner must get more than 50 per cent of all votes cast. If not, the race’s top two candidates will advance to a runoff a week later. There’s been only one runoff presidential election in Iran’s history: in 2005, when hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad bested former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. 


“Let’s look at it as a protest in its own right: A very widespread choice to reject what’s on offer, i.e. both the candidates and the system,” said Sanam Vakil, the director of Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa program. “That tells us much about public opinion, apathy, and frustration. It sort of brings it all together.”

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!

Register for FREE
to continue reading !

This is not a paywall.
However, your registration helps us understand your preferences better and enables us to provide insightful and credible journalism for all our readers.

Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK