Hassan Rohani: Iran's President-Elect

by Stephen Lendman Tuesday, Jun. 18, 2013 at 4:21 AM
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net

Iran

Hassan Rohani: Iran's President-Elect

by Stephen Lendman

It's official. Iran's Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar announced it. Rohani won 50.7% of 36.7 million votes cast.

Six candidates competed. Principlist Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf finished second. He received one-third of Rohani's total.

Rohani won decisively. He'll serve four years. He's limited to two terms. He's head of state. On October 24, 1979, Iranians adopted their Constitution. They did so democratically by national referendum.

On December 3, it took effect. On July 28, 1989, it was amended. It's called a "hybrid (of) theocratic and democratic elements."

Articles One and Two vest sovereign power in God. Article Six "mandates popular elections for president and parliament (the Majlis). Chapter Eight includes Supreme Leader and Guardian Council powers.

Chapter Nine, Section One explains presidential powers and responsibilities.

He's Iran's highest elected official. He's responsible "for implementing the Constitution and acting as the head of the executive, except in matters directly concerned with (the office of) the Leadership."

Qualifications for president include "Iranian origin; Iranian nationality; administrative capacity and resourcefulness; a good past-record; trustworthiness and piety; convinced belief in the fundamental principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the official religion of the country."

Elections "must take place no later than one month before the end of the term of the outgoing President."

Presidents are "responsible to the people, the Leader and the Islamic Consultative Assembly."

Presidential duties include "authority to sign treaties, protocols, contracts, and agreements concluded by the Iranian government with other governments, as well as agreements pertaining to international organizations, after obtaining the approval of the Islamic Consultative Assembly."

They're "responsible for national planning and budget and state employment affairs and may entrust the administration of these to others."

"In case of death, dismissal, resignation, absence, or illness lasting longer than two months of the President, or when his term in office has ended and a new president has not been elected due to some impediments, or similar other circumstances, his first deputy shall assume, with the approval of the Leader, the powers and functions of the President."

"The Council, consisting of the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, head of the judicial power, and the first deputy of the President, is obliged to arrange for a new President to be elected within a maximum period of fifty days."

"In case of death of the first deputy to the President, or other matters which prevent him to perform his duties, or when the President does not have a first deputy, the Leader shall appoint another person in his place."

June 14 was Iran's 11th presidential election. On August 3, Rohani will be inaugurated. He's Iran's seventh president. He faces enormous challenges. More on him below.

US policy remains unchanged. Regime change is prioritized.

Washington demands subservience. Independent governments aren't tolerated. Rohani's election won't change things.

A White House statement stopped short of congratulating him. It's disrespectful and unprincipled. It reflects longstanding anti-Iranian policy. It's typically American, saying:

"We have seen the announcement by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran that Hojjatoleslam Doctor Hassan Rouhani has been declared the winner of Iran

Original: Hassan Rohani: Iran's President-Elect