While the final, official count is still not released, sources within the Iranian government say that President Hassan Rouhanii has an insurmountable lead in today’s presidential election, and will easily secure victory over hardline candidate Ebrahim Raisi.
The Iranian Interior Ministry has reported a far bigger than expected turnout in the election, estimated at over 70%. This led to some five hours of extension in the amount of time the polls were open to accommodate everyone. Over 40 million votes were cast.
By the assessment of a source talking to Reuters, 37 million had been counted by this evening, with 21.6 million voting for Rouhani, meaning he’s going to get a majority, and the only question remaining is how big of a majority he will manage when all is said and done.
Rouhani’s staff has claimed he won about 60% of the vote, and fellow reformist Mohammad Khatami released a picture of Rouhani making a victory sign on social media, bragging “hope prevailed over isolation.” Though polls had predicted the vote would be closer, signs are that the heavy turnout strongly favored the reformist, and dealt a major blow to the hardliner.
After his election, when I saw an official pic of Rouhani in a jersey watching football, I knew Iran was in for an epic ride. This is great news for everyone except the War Party. They are gnashing their teeth right now. A Raisi admin would have been putty in their hands. Just having Dr Zarif alone makes Rouhani’s administration exponentially more powerful and influential on the global stage than any of the others could muster. I can only hope that Dr Zarif will succeed him after this term.
What a relief, such good news for the Iranian people and for the prospects for peace in the region and the world.
The Iranian populace makes us look bad. They elected an adult.
They were given adults to choose from
So true.
Problem is, hardline capitalists like Rouhani,
are they not like selfish children who always
take all they can take?
“will easily secure victory over hardline candidate Ebrahim Raisi.”
But, how can he be considered a “hardliner,” when the laboring-class lower-half of society voted for him exclusively? A socialist hardliner? Really?