Hard-line conservative Ebrahim Raisi wins Iran’s presidential election | Scientist

“After counting 28.6 million votes, Raisi got more than 17,800,000,” said Jamal Oraf, head of the National Elections Committee during a press conference in Tehran.

“I congratulate the people on their choice,” current Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a televised address this morning, even before the official results were announced. “The official congratulatory message will be sent later, but we already know who has enough votes and was elected today by the people,” said the head of government, without mentioning the name of the winner.

And in messages on social media, carried by the Iranian press, the other three candidates made it clear that they recognized a major victory.

For the opposition in exile and human rights defenders, the 60-year-old ultra-conservative is the embodiment of oppression. His name is linked to the mass executions of leftist detainees in 1988, a tragedy in which he denies any involvement.

Iran’s presidential election sparked little enthusiasm in the country and could end with a new abstention record higher than the 57% recorded in legislative sessions last year. Iranians’ sentiment in the election was a marked card game, in which Raisi emerged as the favorite.

The selection of candidates, presented by the Guardian Council, was difficult. More than 600 candidates applied to compete, but only 7 were accepted قبول. Prominent political figures have been removed from the race, such as former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, current Vice President Haq Jahangiri and reformist Mostafa Tajzadeh.

Other competitors appear to be participating as additions: Major General Mohsen Rezaei, the former commander of the Revolutionary Guards, has unsuccessfully contested every presidential election in the past twenty years, while conservative Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi is a deputy from the Stability Front Party of the Islamic Revolution. In Parliament, he does not convince voters, according to the latest intentions polls

(With information from AFP)

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