Iran’s President Rouhani Urges Greater ‘Competition’ In Election

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday he had asked the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to ensure greater “competition” in June elections after many prominent hopefuls were barred from running.

“The heart of elections is competition. If you take that away it becomes a corpse,” Rouhani said at a televised cabinet meeting.

“I sent a letter to the supreme leader yesterday on what I had in mind and on whether he can help with this.”

Iran’s candidate-vetting Guardian Council on Tuesday approved seven hopefuls to run in the June 18 poll to succeed Rouhani, a moderate who under the constitution must step down after his second consecutive term.

The body disqualified moderate conservative Ali Larijani, the long-time parliament speaker and a Rouhani ally, as well as his first vice president, Eshaq Jhangiri, among other well-known names.

It was a surprise move that could clear the way for a strong run by ultraconservative judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi.

Raisi won 38 percent of the vote in the 2017 presidential election but was defeated by Rouhani, making him the expected frontrunner this year.