What does the Iranian President do, besides whatever the Supreme Leader wants or tells him to do? I mean, the guy basically has to be approved by the Supreme Leader to run and get elected, if I am not mistaken.
He seems to be largely a front put up by the Supreme Leadership to handle the scutwork and take the blame for things that go south--or am I mistaken?
What does the Iranian President do, besides whatever the Supreme Leader wants or tells him to do? I mean, the guy basically has to be approved by the Supreme Leader to run and get elected, if I am not mistaken.
He seems to be largely a front put up by the Supreme Leadership to handle the scutwork and take the blame for things that go south--or am I mistaken?
I think of the President of Iran as a Prime Minister in the kind of constitutional monarchy where the monarch still maintains ultimate authority, but the President runs the administration, making sure that everybody gets paid, that the right terrorists are funded, and the right people are arrested in the proper large numbers. Raisi was very good at the arresting -- and condemning -- part while he headed the judiciary, so I doubt that there will be much mourning during this "period of mourning". Every indication is that he was widely, if quietly, hated.
My non-expert understanding is that the Supreme Leader is supreme, but usually somewhat aloof. The president does direct policy, within an acceptable range. Iranian elections are real, but tightly controlled, not free or fair. All candidates for president and parliament must indeed be approved, but it's the Guardian Council - half appointed by the SL - mainly doing the vetting, and then later also signing off on their laws.
It is officially frowned upon, but Iranian voters can register dissatisfaction with the choices by turning in blank ballots, and the tally of these is reported. In the 2021 election that elevated Raisi, "Invalid blank" actually placed second, for the first time.
The Supreme Leader *can* step in and order a reversal in any part of the process at any time, or the dismissal of any official, but he usually doesn't have to be so direct.
What does the Iranian President do, besides whatever the Supreme Leader wants or tells him to do? I mean, the guy basically has to be approved by the Supreme Leader to run and get elected, if I am not mistaken.
He seems to be largely a front put up by the Supreme Leadership to handle the scutwork and take the blame for things that go south--or am I mistaken?
I think of the President of Iran as a Prime Minister in the kind of constitutional monarchy where the monarch still maintains ultimate authority, but the President runs the administration, making sure that everybody gets paid, that the right terrorists are funded, and the right people are arrested in the proper large numbers. Raisi was very good at the arresting -- and condemning -- part while he headed the judiciary, so I doubt that there will be much mourning during this "period of mourning". Every indication is that he was widely, if quietly, hated.
My non-expert understanding is that the Supreme Leader is supreme, but usually somewhat aloof. The president does direct policy, within an acceptable range. Iranian elections are real, but tightly controlled, not free or fair. All candidates for president and parliament must indeed be approved, but it's the Guardian Council - half appointed by the SL - mainly doing the vetting, and then later also signing off on their laws.
It is officially frowned upon, but Iranian voters can register dissatisfaction with the choices by turning in blank ballots, and the tally of these is reported. In the 2021 election that elevated Raisi, "Invalid blank" actually placed second, for the first time.
The Supreme Leader *can* step in and order a reversal in any part of the process at any time, or the dismissal of any official, but he usually doesn't have to be so direct.