Iran will hold a runoff presidential election pitting a little-known reformist against a hard-line former nuclear negotiator after results released Saturday showed the lowest-ever poll turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history.

  • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldOPM
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    6 months ago

    Iranian elections are generally considered fair, although the candidates must be approved by the Supreme Leader, and wield very limited power, so it almost doesn’t matter if the elections are rigged or not.

    If the Reformist candidate wins, it would be the first time that the president and Ayatollah are not in lock step. It could be interesting.

    • Karyoplasma
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      6 months ago

      Didn’t Khamenei already address this and say that regardless of who wins there won’t be any substantial changes to the status quo?

      • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldOPM
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        6 months ago

        Of course. Iran is more like a monarchy. The king is still the king, but if the people are unhappy enough, the king might be compelled to give up influence to parliament.

        Not a perfect analogy by any means, but I think it helps.