A change of power in Iran is almost certain - but it is unclear whether the country will be better afterwards.
The mood of the Iranians is rather pessimistic.
Tehran (dpa) - The presidential election in Iran is over after 19 hours.
A successor to President Hassan Ruhani was elected, who was not allowed to run after two terms in office.
More than 59 million people were eligible to vote, but less than half of them wanted to vote.
Because of the Corona crisis, the opening hours of the polling stations had been extended and their number increased to more than 70,000.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, the first results are expected on Sunday at the latest.
The new president will then be sworn in in August.
Eyewitnesses: Relatively empty polling stations
According to the Iranian state television, voter turnout was high nationwide, including in the capital Tehran.
According to eyewitnesses, however, there was a brisk turnout in some parts of southern Tehran, but otherwise the polling stations in the metropolis were relatively empty.
According to surveys, around 40 percent wanted to vote, over 30 percent less than four years ago.
After the election, observers expect a change in political power.
Of the seven candidates initially admitted, only four entered the race on election day.
An ultra-conservative cleric, a reformer, a former general and a hardliner.
The clear favorite is the cleric and head of justice Ebrahim Raeissi.
The reform-minded economist Abdolnasser Hemmati, who is particularly hoping for protest votes, is given the opportunity to be outsider.
Staged and undemocratic
In large parts of the population, Raeissi's election victory is considered certain. Failed four years ago due to Ruhani, this time his way to the presidential office is much easier. This was also ensured by the so-called Guardian Council, which, as an electoral body, sorted out serious competitors. This even led to violent protests within their own ranks - and to great disinterest on the part of the people in an election that was widely perceived as being staged and undemocratic.
Experts are convinced that Raeissi would not continue Ruhani's moderate course as president.
During the election campaign, he focused more on economic issues and promised a quick end to the financial crisis caused by the US sanctions.
But without negotiations with the USA on the future of the 2015 Vienna nuclear agreement, which has since been undermined by both sides, an end to the sanctions - and to the economic crisis that has been going on for almost three years - would not be feasible.
More skepticism than hope
It is precisely this agreement that Raeissi has sharply criticized in recent years.
Now, however, his point of view sounds less radical.
"We will respect the agreement, but we will set the conditions for it, not the USA," he said during the election campaign.
He did not want to announce his conditions for this until later.
In Middle East politics, too, observers expect a more radical course when Raeissi takes over the presidency, and in relation to archenemy Israel an even more hostile one than before.
There is more skepticism than hope among the population.
Disappointed by Ruhani and the reformers, most Persians do not expect any major changes from Raeissi either.
Above all, they hope for an end to the economic crisis.
At the same time, many fear that Raeissi's policies could lead to a renewed isolation of their country.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210619-99-55575 / 3