ISLAMABAD - Elections are the highest manifestation of the people’s presence in the political arena and the most important channel for the realization of the people’s sovereignty. The development of communities is achieved through the participation of the people and the sense of responsibility of the citizens.
Republic and Islam are the two basic elements of the Islamic Republic of Iran and are a unique feature and factor of power of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the international community.
A prominent feature of the Islamic Republic of Iran is its religious democracy; a government where the values of Islam influence laws and regulations. The pillars and principles of religious democracy are based on the doctrines of divine sovereignty and righteousness, orbital value, public will and consent of the Muslim people, rule of law, meritocracy, consideration of collective reason, public will in decision making, and social planning. The relationship between political development and religious democracy in Iran is by the way, direct, aligned, and reciprocal.
One of the most fundamental issues in constitutional law is the method of elections and its structure. In a democratic, or so-called modern democracy, elections are so important; because the people of the society, instead of being directly in charge of running the affairs of the country, hold elections, and assign their representatives to that parliament or other governmental high ranking posts to make decisions. The importance and credibility of elections in democratic political systems in which people are responsible for their own future, is obvious to everyone.
In the political society of Iran, which is four decades after the official and legal presence of the people in determining the political destiny of the society, there are many ups and downs but has never stopped them from participating in the elections. The presence of the Iranian people in political decisions after the victory of the Islamic Revolution has always been famous in all popular democracies.
Elections are an opportunity for the Iranian people to express their views on governance and politics. Elections in the Islamic Republic of Iran continuously provide the necessary grounds for the rotation of the elites and change in the main parts of the governing body.
The rotation of power in the Islamic Republic of Iran has always been through the ballot box. The election results in different periods are unpredictable and this shows the real democracy and the importance of the people’s vote and opinion.
Elections in Iran have always strengthened the authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the presidential elections in Iran have had a discourse and cultural function in the international community, especially in the region.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is the only country in the region that, after the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, will hold elections without any delay at the times set by its constitution.
Since the glorious victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, elections have been held in the country almost once a year on average, including twelve presidential elections, eleven rounds of Islamic Consultative Assembly elections, as well as various rounds of elections for Assembly of Experts and Islamic city and village (local) councils. This statistic shows that the people participate in determining their destiny and in the management of the country and its grand plans. So, people are real decision makers.
The foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is based on fixed principles and foundations and will not undergo fundamental changes with the establishment of a new government. Maintaining and expanding good and friendly relations with neighbors, Islamic countries and the international community will continue.
It should be noted that the election slogans of all the candidates in this presidential election period rely on endogenous national capacities and protect the country’s economy from the consequences of illegal and oppressive sanctions. Therefore, such a nation cannot be threatened with maximum pressure and sanctions policy.
The presence of the people at the ballot box in the very difficult conditions caused by the oppressive economic sanctions shows the general public trust in the legal and governing processes of the country. Naturally, the new government elected from each political faction is the result of the public will.
The source of power in the Islamic Republic of Iran is the people, and in this regard we do not rely on foreign forces. This issue creates reliable security for our country.
In this regard, the thirteenth presidential election in Iran is going to be held on Friday 18th June 2021, at the same time as the election of the sixth term of the city and village Islamic councils, the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the second term of the Assembly of Experts. The newly elected candidate would be the eighth president in Islamic Republic of Iran, after the Iranian Revolution in 1979.
The thirteenth Iranian presidential elections will be held in Consulates and Embassies located in foreign countries. This year, 234 polling stations in the representations of the Islamic Republic of Iran in various countries around the world have been prepared and activated for the presidential elections. In Pakistan, ballot boxes for Iranian compatriots will be held at the embassy in Islamabad and at other consulates of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Lahore, Karachi and Quetta. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassies of Iran has informed the Iranians living abroad about the polling stations and conditions for participating in the elections through various means (media, representative websites, telephone calls, cyberspace, popular messengers, etc).
At the same time, the task of the mass media is to inform the people, implement the law fully and accurately, and ultimately, to facilitate elections and protect public rights. People are aware that during the 43-year history of the Islamic Republic of Iran, elections have been the most important political event in this country. As a result, the eligible Iranians living abroad, once again by appearing at the vote boxes, will show their efforts and solidarity for the pride and glory of their country.