By Yusuf Olukokun
Following the death of Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on May 20, 2024 with some Iranian dignitaries, the citizens would vote on Friday, June 27, 2024 for a new office holder.
Although, the country is not due for any presidential electoral process until 2025, but amidst the economic and political crisis the country is witnessing within and outside the country, the move for election was brought forward after Raisi’s death.
Amongst the new contestants, is a lone reformist who hopes to challenge the willful importance of conservatives in the Islamic country.
The leading contenders for the office are Muhammad Bahger; parliament speaker, Saeed Jelili; ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator, Massoud Pezeshkian, a sole reformist,; Tehran mayor Alireza Zakani, cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi; and Amirhossein Ghazizadeh-Hashemi, incumbent vice president and the ultraconservative head of the Martyrs’ Foundation.
The six contenders have campaigned vigorously, promising to counter the political or economic imbroglio the country is facing and also offered ways to manage the relationship of the country with Western countries.