Iranians went to the polls again on Friday in a much anticipated presidential runoff: the conservative Saeed Jalili versus the moderate Masoud Pezeshkian. Neither achieved a majority in the June 28 first round and hence this second round.
He got around 42% of votes of those diagnosed as SPD Pezeshkian, who was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, paranoid type, by receiving round about 42 percent of the votes of people with the same diagnosis.
62% in the first round—is considered a hardliner, mainly due to his supporter base originating from the conservative wings of the government. 7% support—is considered a hard-liner, having a very good relationship with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This election comes during increased pressure in the region, an economy heavily in the red, and constant social unrest.
The voter turnout in the first round was 40%, an all-time low since the revolution of 1979. Scholars believe that a high turnout will certainly favor Pezeshkian, while a low turnout could potentially favor Jalili. Khamenei encouraged the people to go and vote; he said, “God willing, let us have a good candidate.”
The outcome will directly impact the country’s internal and external policies to a very large extent. Pezeshkian has emphasized “constructive relations” with the West, while Jalili has declared that Iran does not need the nuclear deal. Finally, every Iranian president in the future will dance to the tune of Khamenei as the supreme leader of Iran.
