1993 Iranian presidential election

The Iranian presidential election of 1993 took place on June 11, 1993 which resulted in the re-election of the incumbent president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.[2]

1993 Iranian presidential election

11 June 1993
Registered	33,156,055[1]
Turnout	50.66%[1] or 57.6%[2]
Nominee Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Ahmad Tavakkoli Party CCA Independent Popular vote 10,449,933 3,972,201 Percentage 64.0% 24.3%
President before election Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani CCA Elected President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani CCA

Rafsanjani's vote declined dramatically in comparison to the previous election amid a lower turnout. According to Anoushiravan Ehteshami, "little separated the candidates from each other" and "real choices and real alternatives" were absent. Out of 128 candidates who registered to run, only 4 were approved. The voter turnout was roughly half of all registered voters at 16,796,787. Discontent with the economic situation and voter apathy are the other reasons cited for the relatively low turnout in the election.[3]

United Press International reported an independent survey have found "the bulk of those who stayed away did so because they were displeased with the clergy or did not believe their vote would make any difference to the government."[2]

Campaign

Ballot papers

None of the candidates enjoyed comparable stature to the incumbent president.[4]

Economic situation was the main issue in the elections. Rafsanjani, whose economic liberalization and privatisation policies were ongoing, said he will concentrate on economics and 'reconstruction effort', despite the deteriorated situation.[4] Economist Ahmad Tavakkoli also ran on a platform of economic reform and more benefits for the working-class.[2]

The Freedom Movement and the Nation Party, called to boycott the election due to "lack of fundamental freedoms and the denial of official recognition to most political parties".[5]

Candidates

Disqualified candidates

The Guardian Council disqualified some candidates who enrolled to run for president, including:

• Ebrahim Yazdi, Head of Political Bureau of Freedom Movement of Iran[6]

Results

1993 Iranian presidential election
Party		Candidate	Nohen et al[7]		ISSDP[1]		UPI[2] / IRNA[8]
			Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%
	Combatant Clergy Association	Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani	10,449,933	64	10,566,499	63	10,553,344	63.2
	Independent	Ahmad Tavakkoli	3,972,201	24.3	4,026,879	23.97	3,976,165	23.8
	Independent	Abdollah Jassbi	1,511,574	9.3	1,498,084	8.92	1,515,632	9.1
	Independent	Rajabali Taheri	394,981	2.4	387,655	2.31	401,579	2.4
Blank or invalid votes			Not reported		317,670	1.89	253,530	1.5
Totals			16,328,689	100.00	16,796,787	100.00	16,700,250	100.00

References

1. "1993 Presidential Election", The Iran Social Science Data Portal, Princeton University, retrieved 17 June 2017
2. Ralph Joseph (13 June 1993), "Rafsanjani wins 63 percent of popular vote", United Press International, retrieved 5 July 2017
3. Anoushiravan Ehteshami (2002). After Khomeini: the Iranian Second Republic. Routledge. pp. 68–69. ISBN 9781134838851.
4. "Iran's leader set for poll victory with clerical help: President Rafsanjani expects voters to renew his mandate for economic reform", The Independent, 11 June 1993, retrieved 5 July 2017
5. Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iran: Chronology of Events: June 1989 - July 1994, 1 January 1995, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6a8170.html [accessed 6 May 2016]
6. Rajaee, Farhang (2010), Islamism and Modernism: The Changing Discourse in Iran, University of Texas Press, pp. 156–157, ISBN 9780292774360
7. Nohlen, Dieter; Grotz, Florian; Hartmann, Christof (2001). "Iran". Elections in Asia: A Data Handbook. I. Oxford University Press. p. 76. ISBN 0-19-924958-X.
8. Anoushiravan Ehteshami (2002), After Khomeini: the Iranian Second Republic, Routledge, Table 11, p. 69, ISBN 9781134838851 – via Islamic Republic New Agency, 14 June 1993