New poll shows Pezeshkian, Jalili top contenders in Iran's elections
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Conservative candidate Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi announced stepping down from the race without endorsing another candidate thus far.
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Iran's national flag waves in Tehran, Iran, on March 31, 2020. (AP)
Two days ahead of the elections scheduled on Friday, a new survey published by ISPA revealed that reformist candidate Masoud Pezekshian is leading the polls, followed closely by conservative candidate Saeed Jalili.
Meanwhile, conservative runner Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, who garnered 2.8% support as per ISPA landing him fourth place, announced stepping down from the race. However, he did not announce endorsing another candidate.
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According to the agency's data, support for Pezeshkian soared to 33.1%, up from 24% on June 23. Jalili’s figures are now at 28.8% after recording 24% during the same period. Prominent conservative figure and current speaker of parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf came in third place, with 19.1% of surveyed individuals saying they would vote for him, after 14.7% in the earlier poll.
The two remaining candidates, Alireza Zakani and Mustafa Pourmohammdi ranked fifth and sixth place, with 2.1% and 1.4% respectively.
The agency also showed that 46% will definitely vote, 28.8% will definitely not vote, 7.9% are very likely to vote, with 12.2% remain undecided.
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With top conservative figures Jalili and Qalibaf deciding not to withdraw in favor of the other facing sole reformist leading candidate Pezeshkian, the presidential elections will most likely head to a runoff on July 5.
Sources from Jalili’s campaign told Al Mayadeen earlier this week that the second-place candidate favors a three-way race, as a runoff win would indicate stronger and more concrete support for the future president.
But other informed sources suggested that, if the three leading contenders compete on election day and one conservative advances to the runoff, it could lead to a division among the conservative support base. This division might either result in losing the election to reformists or electing a president from the conservative camp perceived as not fully representing a significant portion of conservatives, which could negatively impact his term and government.
