Successor for Raisi

61 million Iranians elect a new president

A poster of Massud Peseshkian from the reformist camp(Bild: AFP/Raheb Homavandi)

Iran will elect a new president on Friday. Around 61 million voters are being called upon to elect a successor to Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter accident.

Unlike in many countries around the world, Iran's president is not the head of state. The real power lies with religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Guardian Council, an Islamic supervisory body, had only approved six candidates for the election. Two candidates have already withdrawn their candidacy.

The hardliner Said Djalili, a former negotiator in nuclear negotiations, as well as the incumbent parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf and challenger Massud Peseshkian from the reformist camp have the best chances. If none of the candidates achieves an absolute majority, there will be a run-off election on July 5.

Polling stations will be open from 8 am to 6 pm local time (6.30 am to 4.30 pm CEST) with the possibility of extra time. The first results are expected on Saturday.