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First Round Of Irans Presidential

Juan Cole 06/18/2005

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First Round of Iran’s Presidential Elections Inconclusive
Turnout Stronger than Expected

The Presidential elections in Iran produced a messy result that will require a run-off between the two top candidates. The final outcome won’t be clear until Saturday afternoon at least, but it seems that former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani will be one of the two.

Turnout was about 60 percent, better than expected. That is slightly bigger than the turnout in Iraq’s recent elections.

The problem for voters seeking genuine change is that the hardline clerics have found ways to blunt progressive movements. It remains to be seen if a new president will be able to outmaneuver them. The Iranian public appears to be voting for candidates with strong personalities who might be able to accomplish something nevertheless.

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About the Author

Juan Cole is the founder and chief editor of Informed Comment. He is Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History at the University of Michigan He is author of, among many other books, Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires and The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Follow him on Twitter at @jricole or the Informed Comment Facebook Page

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Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires



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The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam


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