Iran sets date for presidential election

Các quan chức hàng đầu của Iran tổ chức cuộc họp để đưa ra quyết định về thời điểm tổ chức bầu cử Tổng thống. (Ảnh: MNA) — Iran's top officials hold meeting to decide on when to hold presidential election. (Photo: MNA)

On the evening of May 20, Iran's top officials representing the executive, legislative and judicial branches held a meeting chaired by interim President Mohammad Mokhber - who temporarily took over the position of President Ebrahim Raisi after his accident.

Accordingly, the leaders decided that an extraordinary election to elect a new President of Iran will be held on June 28. The registration of candidates will take place from May 30 to June 3, and the campaign period will take place from June 12 to the morning of June 27.

The decision by Iran's leaders came after the country confirmed the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and several other officials in a helicopter crash on May 19 in East Azerbaijan province. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared five days of national mourning and appointed Vice President Mohammad Mokhber to temporarily take over Raisi's position.

Article 131 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran states: If a president dies in office, the first vice president shall succeed him, after confirmation from the supreme leader, who has the most important say in all matters of Iran. After that, a council consisting of the first vice president, the speaker of the parliament and the head of the judiciary must organize a new presidential election within a maximum period of 50 days.

Earlier the same day, the Iranian Parliament announced that it would hold its first session after President Raisi's death on May 21.

After rescuers located the helicopter debris, an Iranian official said the helicopter carrying President Raisi was completely burned when it crashed.

Earlier, on May 19, a Bell 212 helicopter carrying President Raisi and his entourage had an accident and had to make a “hard landing” in East Azarbaijan province. The helicopter convoy escorting Iranian President Raisi was on its way from Khoda Afarin to the provincial capital of Tabriz to attend the inauguration of a petrochemical complex. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati were also on board the helicopter carrying President Raisi. A total of nine people were on board the crashed helicopter.