An important election is pending in Iran: on February 21, the people will elect a new parliament. As a rule, however, only candidates who have the approval of the leadership may enter.
Tehran - February 21, 2020 may be a difficult day for Iran : the country is electing a new parliament . However, the regime around the “Supreme Leader” Ali Khamenei focuses primarily on voter turnout . In his speeches, Khamenei is now campaigning to vote. The reason: a low turnout could be seen as a lack of support for the system. The fear of it is not unfounded, there are always demonstrations by the population. The rulers are tough on it.
Iran: US sanctions are hard on the country's economy
Iran is in a serious crisis . The country's economy is suffering from severe sanctions - especially from the United States. Many people are unemployed and inflation is high. And the events of January 8 still overshadow the country: the Iranian military shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane that day. All 176 people on board were killed. At first, the authorities in Iran spoke of a technical defect - in the end, however, it was admitted that the plane was shot down by mistake. The apparently accidental launch occurred as a result of a military response to the US killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani. However, the details are still unclear. Several countries have asked Iran to investigate the incident in depth - which President Hassan Rohani also assured.
Armed Forces' internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people.
Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake. # PS752
It happens again and again Protests against those in power. According to Amnesty International, the Iranian security forces are sometimes tough on the demonstrators. There are arrests - people are killed again and again. A little over 83 million people live in Iran (UN estimate as of February 2020) on an area of 1.6 million square kilometers. For comparison: Germany has around 83 million inhabitants - but on less than a quarter of the area. However, Iran largely consists of high mountains and deserts. The country's capital is Tehran with more than 9.1 million inhabitants (as of February 2020).
"Supreme Leader": Ali Khamenei has been the country's political and religious leader since 1989
Since the revolution in 1979 - culminating in the overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi - Iran has been a so-called theocratic republic . It is the mixed form of a political system. A state based on theocracy is also called a state of God . There is no separation of state and religion. State authority there is only legitimized by religion. Ali Khamenei has been the political and religious head of political Shiite Iran since 1989 - he is also known as the "Supreme Leader". Khamenei is also the commander in chief of the Iranian armed forces. The now 80-year-old was elected for life by the Expert Council (an 86-member constitutional body of Iran).
Ali Khamenei: "Elections are an opportunity for our country."
In a speech in early February, Khamenei emphasized the importance of the elections for the country. In this speech, which was published on an Iranian website, he also defends himself against the claim that the elections are a pessimistic game: "If you say that this is not a democratic process and that it is not a real election, but rather is about an appointment, then the people are discouraged. ”However, this is a lie . He urges people to vote: "Elections are an opportunity for our country: if they are carried out with enthusiasm and all people go to the polls , this will ensure the country's security."
Apart from their propaganda to change people's votes with money & the power of capital, the US - the self-proclaimed hub of democracy - has #election laws that allow a candidate with fewer votes to become the #President! An example is the current POTUS.
Is this democracy? pic.twitter.com/xptBnd5iXh
Nevertheless, there is also a president in Iran who is elected by the people. The current president of Iran is Hassan Rohani - he succeeded Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the 2013 elections. The Iranian President is - if you will - responsible for day-to-day political affairs. However, he can be sold at any time by the "Supreme Leader", who also has an impact on day-to-day business that should not be underestimated. In addition, the " Supreme Leader " can influence politics through the so-called Guardian Council - this has a veto right over all legislative decisions and government decisions. Because the "Supreme Leader" largely occupies the Guardian Council itself, its decisions are usually made in its favor. In May 2021, the successor for President Hassan Rohani will be determined - after two terms, he may not run again for office.
Free elections? Those who do not fit the leadership will not even be admitted as candidates
Talking about free elections is difficult in the case of Iran . Because the so-called Guardian Council decides in advance who can stand for election at all - the candidates must register with this body. Anyone who deviates too far from the state line will not even be admitted. But even an elected parliament cannot make a decision that is not appreciated by the leadership: if this is the case, Khamenei - or the Guardian Council - can simply be reversed.
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