Presidential elections were held in Iran on 11 June 1993, which resulted in the re-election of the incumbent president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Rafsanjani's vote declined dramatically in comparison to the previous election amid a lower turnout. According to

Anoushiravan Ehteshami Anoushiravan "Anoush" Ehteshami ( fa, انوشیروان احتشامی) is the Professor and Joint Director of the ESRC Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World at Durham University. Ehteshami is the Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah Chair in ...

, "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. 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."

Campaign

Iran Presidental Elections 1993 Ballot paper

None of the candidates enjoyed comparable stature to the incumbent president. Economic situation was the main issue in the elections. Rafsanjani, whose economic liberalization and

privatisation Privatization (also privatisation in British English) can mean several different things, most commonly referring to moving something from the public sector into the private sector. It is also sometimes used as a synonym for deregulation when ...

policies were ongoing, said he will concentrate on economics and 'reconstruction effort', despite the deteriorated situation. Economist

Ahmad Tavakkoli Ahmad Tavakkoli (; born 5 March 1951) is an Iranian conservative and principlist politician, journalist. He is currently member of the Expediency Discernment Council. Also he is currently managing-director of ''Alef'' news website and founder of t ...

also ran on a platform of economic reform and more

benefits Benefit or benefits may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Benefit'' (album), by Jethro Tull, 1970 * "Benefits" (''How I Met Your Mother''), a 2009 TV episode * '' The Benefit'', a 2012 Egyptian action film Businesses and organisatio ...

for the working-class. 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".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 ccessed 6 May 2016/ref>

Candidates

Disqualified candidates

The

Guardian Council The Guardian Council, (also called Council of Guardians or Constitutional Council, fa, شورای نگهبان, Shourā-ye Negahbān) is an appointed and constitutionally mandated 12-member council that wields considerable power and influence i ...

disqualified some candidates who enrolled to run for president, including: * Ebrahim Yazdi, Head of Political Bureau of Freedom Movement of Iran

Results

References

Presidential elections in Iran 1993 elections in Iran June 1993 events in Asia Iran {{Iran-election-stub