Making Right Choice in Election Key to Solving Problems

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said any inefficiency in the management of the county should be addressed by making a right choice in elections to bring a “popular” and “Islamic” administration to power. 
He called on each and every Iranian to feel duty-bound to take part in the elections and encourage others to do so since public vote is an important principle of Islamic republicanism.  
“Popular sovereignty is the exhibition of [a society’s] right to determine its fate,” he said in an address on the 32nd anniversary of the passing of Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, on Friday, the Leader.ir reported.
Voting is a religious responsibility and right, according to Ayatollah Khamenei, while the rule of religion is impossible without public participation.
“Without public support, governments will have no choice but to resort to force and oppression which are not allowed in Islam,” he said, adding that public backing is essential to realizing and maintaining an Islamic government. 
Citing Imam Khomeini, the Leader also said the two words “republic” and “Islamic”, which refer to the simultaneous “sovereignty of Islam and people,” are key to solving all problems. 
“If the authorities apply Islamic principles in domestic and foreign affairs and prepare the ground for public participation, problems will be addressed,” he said.  
Iran is holding presidential elections on June 18 to choose new president to replace the incumbent Hassan Rouhani who cannot run again due to term restrictions. 
Seven candidates have been approved by the Guardian Council, Iran’s top vetting body, namely Ebrahim Raeisi, Abdolnasser Hemmati, Mohsen Rezaei, Saeed Jalili, Mohsen Mehralizadeh, Alireza Zakani and Amir Hossein Qazizadeh Hashemi.  
The Leader strongly advised people against abandoning the elections, stressing that the weakening of either democracy or religion will strike a blow at both Islam and Iran. 
He also said votes should not be cast merely based on the candidates’ promises, urging voters to check if their previous work history approves their election mottos.
Ayatollah Khamenei also advised candidates to avoid making promises that they do not believe in or are not sure they can fulfill. 
In case of victory, he added, presidential applicants are expected to feel committed to establishing social justice, reducing the gap between the rich and the poor, combatting corruption, boosting domestic production and fighting smuggling and unchecked imports.
“Candidates must explicitly take a position on these affairs so that they can be questioned and reprimanded in case they fail to put the promises to practice after being elected,” he said.