Khamenei: Not participating in elections means distancing oneself from the Islamic Republic

In his speech on the occasion of the presidential election, the Leader of the Islamic Republic made reference to Qassem Soleimani. He said that not participating in the elections means distancing the people from the Islamic Republic.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a televised speech on Wednesday, June 16, that people's non-participation in the presidential election on June 18 means the nation's distancing itself from the Islamic system.

Polls show that only 40 percent of eligible voters will participate in Friday's election, making it the lowest-turnout presidential election in Iran.

Khamenei drew a correlation between participation in the elections and increasing pressure on the people that ignores the government’s role in creating today’s chaotic economic and social conditions. “If we reduce people’s participation, we will see increased pressure from the enemy,” he said.

In this regard, the 82-year-old politician referred to the sanctions, some of which are due to Iran's nuclear program and others for other reasons, including the Islamic Republic's human rights violations and support for groups on terrorist lists.

Regarding the economic pressures on the Iranian nation, Khamenei did not mention domestic embezzlement worth billions, rent-seeking, and the existence of petty and big thieves who are connected to circles of power.

Creating fear instead of motivation

Khamenei accused the Islamic Republic's opponents of "distorting the people's minds about the elections" and warned the nation that if they interfere with the ballot boxes, those who "seek to weaken the system" will "suffer insecurity and terrorism" in Iran.

The most powerful person in the Islamic Republic also used Qassem Soleimani as a reason to encourage people to participate in the elections. He likened the elections to Soleimani's funeral and said that it would be good for people to look at the elections "beyond political tastes."

A variety of figures, including well-known reformist figures, attended the funeral of slain Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.

Khamenei speaks of transcending political tastes while the Guardian Council, under his command, removes all political tastes other than the "leadership line" from the arena of political competition through discretionary supervision.

The difference between the Islamic Republic and a real republic

Ali Khamenei went on to explain that "in the Islamic Republic, the republic is one part and the Islamic is one part," and if people stay home on election day, "the Islamic Republic will not be realized."

Many observers and political analysts consider the republican aspect of the Iranian system to be very weak or even colorless in that not only are free and fair elections not held with the participation of all tastes and groups, but individual and social freedoms, freedom of parties, and freedom of the media are also ignored in this governmental system.

In Iran, individual and social freedoms are defined by Islamic law and the interpretation of religious leaders. Furthermore, the government, which represents the majority of voters, cannot make decisions on major policies, especially foreign policy, alone or with the help of the parliament, but must seek the approval of the supreme leader.

"The presence of people is a blessing"

Khamenei went on to speak of the "blessings" and "political benefits" of the people's presence, but did not say what these blessings and benefits were and who would benefit from them.

Regarding economic shortages and social unrest, the Leader of the Islamic Republic only said that he was aware of "the grievances of the people, especially the deprived classes, regarding the failure to address their livelihood problems" and that he considered the grievances to be justified, but he did not explain why no action has been taken to address them so far.

He called on the people to solve their problems by "electing a strong, hardworking, powerful, and tireless person." This is despite the fact that, according to the principle of absolute sovereignty of the jurist in the Islamic Republic's constitution, there is no person more powerful than him.

Source: DW