FT.com
As Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad wraps up his second and last term as president of Iran, the race to select his successor has become one of the most fraught in the recent history of the Islamic republic.
Mr Ahmadi-Nejad’s tenure was nothing if not eventful. The past eight years have been dominated by long drawn-out nuclear negotiations with western powers, the steady deterioration of the country’s economy and an unprecedented struggle between the president and the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The outgoing president’s plans to anoint his former chief of staff, Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei, as his successor were foiled when the Guardian Council, a constitutional watchdog, banned him from participation.
The council also banned former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a reformist-backed stalwart of the Islamic revolution, from the race. As a result, the polling card on June 14 will now be dominated by candidates loyal to the supreme leader. Click on the pictures for more information on the candidates and key players.
