Iran judiciary chief Raisi announces presidency bid

By AFP 15 May 2021, 10:17 am

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Iran’s ultraconservative judiciary chief and one-time presidential hopeful Ebrahim Raisi announces his candidacy for next month’s presidential election, according to a statement on local media.

Former judge Raisi was the leading rival to the incumbent President Hassan Rouhani in the 2017 election, and long the topic of media speculation for this year’s race.

In his statement, Raisi says he came forward over intense “public demand”, and aims to run “independently in order to bring about a change in the executive management of the country.”

Ebrahim Raisi, Head of Iran’s Judiciary, speaks during a ceremony on the occasion of first anniversary of death of late Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) general Qasem Soleimani, in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

He also vows to wage “a relentless fight against poverty and corruption, humiliation and discrimination,” the main slogans of his campaign four years ago.