Iranian presidential election, 1997

The Iranian presidential elections in 1997 were held on 23 May 1997. Election winner was the reformer Mohammad Khatami surprising.

Prehistory

Preceding the election was the second term Alī Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. The country was in a bad state. High government debt, international isolation and a resurgent conservative Supreme Leader, Sayyid Alī Chamene'i shaped the political image of Iran. Rafsanjani could constitutionally after two terms of office not to run again and in the Iranian population was spreading hope for a political change. However, the Council of Guardians rejected by 238 candidates, who wanted to be up for election, from 234.

The former Minister of Islamic Culture, Mohammad Khatami, was admitted despite his reputation as a moderate intellectuals to choose from. He had to be coaxed to his candidacy, as he had retired in 1992 as a protest against the machinations of the radical rigorous governance from politics and since then was the director of Tehran's National Library. Previously, he had been dismissed by the conservative -dominated parliament as Minister of Islamic culture. After the Guardian had given the OK for his candidacy, he led a campaign with liberal slogans for women's rights and freedom of expression. In this way he was able to win the sympathies of the reformist Iranians, whose number had increased steadily in the years after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's death.

However favorite was Ali Akbar Nateq Nuri, the Speaker of Parliament and candidate for the religious leadership to Chamene'i. In addition to Khatami and Nateq Nuri as candidates nor Mohammad Mohammadi Reyshahri, a former judge and revolution Reza Zavarchi, the only non- cleric and former prosecutor for the office of President. Reyshahri and Zavarchi were before the election as a chance.

Results and consequences

Mohammad Khatami was able to unite almost 70 % of the vote in a triumphant victory. The turnout was 79.92 %.

With Khatami's election victory, established the reformers in the Iranian government. However, they were faced with a conservative -dominated parliament, as well as the spiritual leader Seyyed Alī Chamene'i and its institutions. However, Khatami's election victory in the West was hailed as homemade departure from Iran's political isolation.

Fact was proved by the choice of many observers that the democratic elements in the Iranian system were strong enough to cause political change. Khatami was the symbol of freedom, democracy, equality, and critical dialogue. Hopes that he could not meet eventually.