Pezeshkian’s presidency

Iran’s presidential polls have hinted at evolving socio-political unrest as for the first time lack of enthusiasm was found among the voters. While the run-off vote on July 5 returned moderate lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian to the presidency, it came on the heels of uncertainty and lackluster. Iran, the only country in the region to exercise unhindered democracy by resourcing to a mandate from the people, witnessed less than 40% turnout on June 25, and a subsequent 50% vote amidst deep rooted concerns on rampant security crackdowns and strangulated freedom of expression. The fact that Supreme Leader Syed Ali Khamenei rules the roost, and is the final decision-making authority, has over the period of time led to scepticism over the writ and credibility of elected figures in a parallel power-sharing decorum.

Pezeshkian is no stranger to power corridors as he has been a reformist lawmaker, and a deputy speaker, but with a heart-line tilted towards pluralism. Perhaps that was the sole distinction that he managed to win over the supplementary vote by defeating Khamenei’s nominee and former nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili. Yet, there is an uphill task for the president-elect as many of his reformist predecessors such as Hassan Rouhani and Syed Khatami had to sign off half-heartedly despite making roads on the path of opening up the reclusive civil society of Iran. Pezeshkian’s resolve for social freedoms and engagement with the West will be tested too on the amount of resistance his presidency begets from the clergy and the invisible politburo of the Islamic Republic.

Iran has a vibrant and evolving democratic culture, and that is in need of being eulogised by the powers-that-be in Tehran. Iranians are asking for nothing more than genuine human-centric freedom and that too as ordained by popular voices. The way to go ahead is to let the elected strata govern with all ease, and open up the economic frontiers of the sanctioned state by ushering in domestic political reforms. Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon, should hear the heart-beat of the nation in all humility, and deliver.