Interior Ministry Proposal: Presidential Elections on May 18 and June 5

Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, the Minister of Interior, stated on Tuesday, July 5, that the Interior Ministry has proposed two dates to the Guardian Council for holding the presidential elections of 1396 (2017): May 18 and June 5. According to ISNA, the Minister mentioned after a meeting on rural development that since June next year coincides with Ramadan, we have suggested these two dates for the presidential elections. He added, 'One date is May 18, and if it goes to a second round, we have proposed June 5, and it is feasible for us to conduct the elections on these dates. Since we have both the presidential and Islamic Council elections as well as midterm parliamentary elections, we need to resolve this quickly so we can proceed.' Rahmani Fazli emphasized that we cannot hold elections after Ramadan due to the four-year presidential term limit, which would create execution issues. The Minister further noted that initial negotiations with the Guardian Council have taken place, and at the first council meeting after Ramadan, this topic will be the first agenda item, and we will act according to any decision made. Rahmani Fazli also mentioned that we have already informed the Guardian Council of our readiness to hold the elections electronically in 1396, so they cannot claim there was not enough time later. According to Article 119 of the Constitution, 'The election of a new president must take place at least one month before the end of the previous presidential term, and during the period between the election of the new president and the end of the previous president's term, the former president performs the duties of the presidency.' Reports indicate that the eleventh presidential term will end on August 3, 2017, and according to Article 119 of the Constitution, the new president must be announced at least one month before the end of the previous presidential term. It is noteworthy that since the sixth presidential election in 1993, presidential elections have been held in June.