IRAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ON JUNE 18

IRAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ON JUNE 18

Subject : International Relations

Context : On May 25, the Guardian Council in Iran announced a slate of seven candidates who would compete in the presidential election on June 18.

Concept :

• Iran has a dichotomous political order whose two parts are constantly at odds with each other.
• It has the institutions of a normal democratic system — a directly elected President, an elected national assembly, and a government responsible to the assembly.
• The other part of the political order is devoted to safeguarding the ideology and principles of the Islamic Revolution; this has provided the country with institutions that are unique to Iran and do much to dilute, if not undermine, the country’s democratic credentials.
• Placed above the popularly elected President is the Supreme Leader, who wields supreme authority in all matters of national governance — security, defence, foreign relations, the judiciary.
• One of the bodies under the Supreme Leader is the 12-member Guardian Council.