Iranian dictator Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledged on Wednesday that his regime recorded a “lower than expected” voter turnout in last week’s special presidential elections, but insisted the low turnout was not the result of an international boycott campaign against voter fraud.
The Iranian government reported approximately 10,000 participants. 40 percent It was the lowest turnout ever for Friday’s election. showcited nearly empty polling stations and local statistics that suggested the election’s actual turnout was likely much lower. Friday marked the second consecutive presidential election with record-low voter turnout.
Iran’s theocratic regime does not allow its citizens to vote legitimately. Instead, it orchestrates fake elections for the presidency and other top offices. For the presidency, a “Guardian Council” made up of clerics and people loyal to Khamenei decides who appears on the ballot, eliminating the vast majority of candidates to ensure that voters only elect those intent on perpetuating 46 years of tyranny. This year, 95% of candidates were not allowed on the ballot.
Some candidates pose as “moderates” and others as “hardliners,” but they are all subservient to the president, Khamenei, and candidates must pledge allegiance to the regime to appear on the ballot.
The June 28 general election was held following the death of the incumbent “hardliner” Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a mysterious helicopter crash in May along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdellahian.
Khamenei referred to the low voter turnout in last week’s election in a speech in Tehran on Wednesday ahead of Friday’s second round of voting. No candidate received more than 50% of the support on Friday, so the presidential election will now have an unusual runoff election on July 5. According to the regime’s election officials, the top two candidates – “moderate” Massoud Pezeshkian and “hardliner” Saeed Jalili – will be entered on the ballot alone, and whoever gets the most votes will win.
According to the pro-government Tasnim news agency, Khamenei acknowledged that the turnout was disappointing for Tehran, but strongly denied that calls to boycott the elections on the grounds that they were not free or fair played a significant role in the low turnout.
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“It is a complete misinterpretation to think that people who did not vote in the first round of the presidential elections are against the regime,” Tasnim said. Quote Khamenei said:
Khamenei further declared that voting was “a foundation and source of pride for the Islamic system.” according to To state-run media outlet PressTV.
“This election is very important and for all those who love Islam, the Islamic Republic, the progress of the country and the improvement of its situation, [favors] To bridge the gap, we should demonstrate this interest by taking part in Friday’s elections,” Khamenei declared.
Translated by the independent media outlet Iran International Shown Khamenei blamed the low voter turnout on “problems and difficulties”, a change from previous elections when he dismissed those who simply did not vote as “lazy”.
“Do not be lazy, ignore or underestimate, and participate in every corner of the country,” Khamenei reportedly urged during Friday’s vote.
The question of whether to boycott the runoff election has become a hot topic of debate among Iranian opponents of the regime following the unexpected victory of “moderate” Pezeshkian in the first round of voting. Pezeshkian was reported to have come out on top last week, receiving 42.4% of the vote, far outnumbering the other candidates and beating the presumed front-runner, “hard-line” former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officer Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf. Notably, Pezeshkian’s rise to the top came after two of the approved “hard-line” candidates withdrew in an attempt to consolidate the votes of radical Islamists.
Mr. Pezeshkian tried to appeal to voters disaffected with the government, but activists continued to call for a boycott. A group of 50 opposition leaders issued a joint statement after the first round of voting saying the election was a false choice between two of Khamenei’s supporters.
“Political participation and voting for handpicked, ineffectual candidates is a dark and bitter joke,” the activists wrote.
Some prominent Iranians have suggested that backing Mr Pezeshkian would be worthwhile to avert a possible Jalili presidency and prevent Iran from sliding further into totalitarianism. Former President Mohammed Khatami, a “moderate” Between Listening to these voices, the party issued a statement this week saying the low voter turnout was a “clear sign of public dissatisfaction with the status quo”.
Khatami said not voting would be “harmful to the country” and that electing Pezeshkian, whom he supports, was “unfinished business.”
Pezechkian has also garnered support from his predecessor, the “moderate” President Hassan Rouhani, and former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Both Pezeshkian and Jalili issued statements afterward trying to persuade Iranians to go to the polls, portraying the boycotters as an untapped constituency that could win either election.
“If the current situation is far from the desired level of public participation, we must motivate the public with a plan to move towards the desired participation,” Jalili said. SaidAccording to Iran International.
