Cartoon 53: Free Elections: Picking from the Favorites

On May 21, Iran’s Guardian Council, responsible for vetting candidates for the upcoming June 14 presidential election, announced a list of eight approved candidates from the pool of 686 individuals who had registered. All eight candidates are considered to be the Supreme Leader’s favorites; many have family ties with him and/or were appointed to their previous or current positions by him. Of the 12 men on the Guardian Council itself, six were appointed directly by the Supreme Leader, and the other six were chosen indirectly by him.

On June 14, Iranians are free to choose a president from a carefully selected group of candidates who are all near and dear to the Supreme Leader.