The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Hassan Rouhani

  • Moderate Rouhani leads in Iran’s poll

    Moderate Rouhani leads in Iran’s poll

    Early results from Iran’s presidential election put the reformist-backed candidate, Hassan Rouhani, in the lead.

    Official figures give him 52 per cent of the five million ballots counted so far – well ahead of second-placed Tehran mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf on 17 per cent.

    BBC says if Mr. Rouhani maintains that margin, he will be able to avoid a run-off vote.

    Electoral officials said turnout was high among the 50 million Iranians eligible to vote on Friday for a successor to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

    His eight years in power have been characterised by economic turmoil and Western sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme.

    The interior ministry began releasing preliminary figures early on Saturday after a delay of several hours.

    Voting was extended until 23:00 local time (18:30 GMT) on Friday to allow more people to cast their ballots. Iranian Press TV reported that turnout was 80 per cent.

    It is unclear when the final results will be known.

    Although all six candidates are seen as conservatives, analysts say Mr. Rouhani – a 64-year-old cleric often described as “moderate” who has held several parliamentary posts and served as chief nuclear negotiator – has been reaching out to reformists in recent days.

    The surge of support for him came after Mohammad Reza Aref, the only reformist candidate in the race, announced on Tuesday that he was withdrawing on the advice of pro-reform ex-President Mohammad Khatami.

    Mr. Rouhani therefore went into polling day with the endorsement of two ex-presidents – Mr. Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was disqualified from the race by the powerful Guardian Council, a 12-member body of theologians and jurists.

     

     

  • Iran holds key presidential elections

    Millions of voters across Iran are casting their ballots in the country’s presidential elections.

    Although all six candidates are seen as conservatives, one of them, cleric Hassan Rouhani, has been reaching out to the reformists in recent days.

    The BBC says the election will decide a successor to outgoing leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

    His eight years in power have been characterised by economic turmoil and Western sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear programme.

    Polls across Iran opened at 08:00 local time (03:30 GMT) and are due to close at 18:00 (13:30 GMT). Some 50 million people are eligible to cast their ballots.

    The past week brought a surprising change to what otherwise had looked like being a predictable election, the BBC reports.

    Mr. Rouhani has been attracting increasing attention, speaking publicly about the need to re-engage with the West.

    He has also promised to free political prisoners and called for greater reform of the media.

    The surge of support for him came after Mohammad Reza Aref, the only reformist candidate in the race, announced on Tuesday that he was withdrawing his candidature on the advice of pro-reform ex-President Mohammad Khatami.

    Mr. Rouhani now has the endorsement of two ex-presidents, Mr. Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was disqualified from the race by the powerful Guardian Council.