The search lasted for many hours, until Tehran announced the news this Monday morning, May 20: President Ebrahim Raïssi and the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs died in a helicopter accident. What should we expect now?
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The death of the president and his foreign minister were confirmed by the first vice-president and the government spokesperson Iranianaffirms Siavosh Ghazi, our correspondent in Tehran. Messages of condolences have multiplied since the information became official.
A transition period of approximately two months is now expected, which now begins with the establishment of a Provisional Presidential Council which includes the first vice-president, the speaker of parliament and the head of the authority judicial, which is responsible for organizing new elections within 50 days. We will therefore know the name of the next president by then. In the meantime, it is the first vice-president who is responsible for managing the current affairs of the country.
Analysis and decryption, listen to our special edition after the death of Iranian President Raïssi
Article 131 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic provides that, “ in the event of death, dismissal, resignation, absence or illness of more than two months of the president “, It is ” the first vice president who will assume the powers of the president “. This process must have “ the approval of the Supreme Leader », specifies the article, while the ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the highest authority in the country and its head of state.
The future interim president, Mohammad Mokhber, 68, was appointed by Ebrahim Raïssi as first vice-president in August 2021, after the presidential election. He was born in Dezfoul in the southwest province of Khuzestan, where he held several official positions.
As the country enters into mourning, the electoral process will therefore take place in parallel with the organization of funerals. We remember that after the death of General Soleimanithere had been several ceremonies organized in several cities across the country and the tribute had lasted several days.
Read alsoIran: ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raïssi is dead
Not “the slightest disturbance in the administration” of the country
Since the 1979 revolution, the president has been appointed for four years, renewable once consecutively. Assisted by several vice-presidents, he is responsible for appointing and directing the Council of Ministers because the post of Prime Minister does not exist in Iran.
The Iranian government assured this Monday morning in a press release that the death of the president Ebrahim Raïssi was not going to lead to “ the slightest disruption in the administration ” from the country. “ The president of the Iranian people, hardworking and tireless, (…) sacrificed his life for the nation », Reacted the government. “ We assure the loyal nation that with the help of God and the support of the people, there will not be the slightest disruption in the administration of the country “, he added.
This situation in Iran is being followed very closely around the world, particularly by the United States. Several countries have provided support to Tehran in the search operations: Russia, Turkey, but also Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.