Iran's Presidential Runoff Election Set: Reformist vs. Conservative Candidates Compete on July 5

After the death of the previous leader, Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter crash, the Iranian interior ministry has announced a runoff election for the country's presidency. This runoff will pit reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian against hard-line conservative Saeed Jalili on July 5.

The special vote was called after the death of Ebrahim Raisi, and the runoff election comes in the wake of low voter turnout. The runoff election was called as the result of low voter turnout and a field of three main candidates, two of whom competed for the conservative vote.

60% Voter Abstention

Iranian law requires a winner to receive more than 50 percent of all votes cast. However, Iran's state news agency reported that 60 percent of Iranians did not vote in the initial election. Analysts and aides to the candidates indicated that this was largely an act of protest against the government for ignoring their demands for meaningful change.

"In one of the most competitive presidential elections, where reformists and conservatives came to the field with all their might, a 60 percent majority of Iranians are through with reformist and conservatives," said Siamak Ghassemi, a prominent Iranian economist, on social media.

It is clear that the high abstention rate sends a strong message to the government, showing widespread dissatisfaction with the current political landscape and a desire for genuine reform.