The Turkish-origin president of Iran! The song he celebrated his election victory with made a big impact on the ceremony.

Iranian reformist and former health minister Mesud Pezeşkiyan, who is a member of parliament from Tabriz, became the country's 9th President by receiving 53.7% of the votes in the second round of the 14th term presidential election held yesterday, without breaking the current HTML.

"THE BACKBONE OF THE TURK DOES NOT BEND"

Pezeşkiyan, who gave messages of hope and change to the people throughout the election campaign, held a jubilant celebration after the announcement of the election results. While celebrations were held all over the country, the song that Pezeşkiyan celebrated his election victory with drew attention. After the victory, the song "The backbone of the Turk does not bend" was played in the hall, showing Pezeşkiyan's commitment to his roots and cultural heritage.

FIRST STATEMENT AFTER VICTORY

Mesud Pezeşkiyan, in his first message to the people on social media, said, "Dear Iranian people, the elections are over. This is the beginning of our unity. We cannot overcome the difficult path ahead without unity and trust. I extend my hand to you and I swear on my honor that I will not leave you alone on this path."

"I TAKE PRIDE IN MY TURKISHNESS"

Pezeşkiyan used the expressions "I always spoke Turkish, not Persian, with my children at home. I am Turkish. My mother and father are also Turkish. I take pride in my Turkishness" in his election slogans, which he conducted with great care.

WHO IS PEZEŞKİYAN?

Reformist politician Pezeşkiyan was born on September 29, 1954, in the city of Mahabad, as the child of an Iranian Turkish family, and he always expressed his pride in his Turkish identity. His surname, Pezeşkiyan, means "Doctors" in Persian. He graduated from Tabriz University Faculty of Medicine. He served as both a combatant and a doctor during the Iran-Iraq war, which took place between 1980 and 1988. Pezeşkiyan completed his internship course in 1985 and continued his education by specializing in general surgery at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences after the war.

LOST HIS WIFE AND SON

Pezeşkiyan, who received his specialization in cardiac surgery from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in 1993, served as the Rector of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences between 1994 and 1999. He lost his wife and son in a traffic accident and gained sympathy as a compassionate and resilient figure. In 1994, he lost his wife Fatma Mecidi and one of his sons in a traffic accident, and he raised his two remaining sons and one daughter alone and never remarried. Pezeşkiyan's story of loss and sacrifice gained sympathy and respect from many people in the Iranian society, who saw him as a compassionate and resilient figure.

Pezeşkiyan's political career began when he was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Health during the presidency of former President Mohammad Khatami in 1997. Later, he was appointed as the Minister of Health in the Khatami era in 2001 and served in this position until 2005. Pezeşkiyan, who managed to enter the Parliament as a member from Tabriz in the general election held in 2008, has been serving as the representative of Tabriz since then for five terms.

SUPPORTED GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE WEST

Pezeşkiyan did not hesitate to criticize the government's attitude towards the opposition. He had a tense relationship with conservative deputies after giving a speech criticizing the intervention of security forces in the Parliament following the events that occurred after the presidential election in 2009. Although he applied for candidacy in the 2013 presidential election in Iran, he later withdrew his candidacy. In 2016, he served as the Deputy Speaker of the Iranian Parliament for 4 years. During this period, he advocated for the nuclear agreement and good relations with the West. Pezeşkiyan's candidacy in the 2021 elections was rejected by the Guardian Council. In the Parliamentary Elections held on March 1, he was re-elected as a member of Parliament from Tabriz.

HIS WORDS AFTER MAHSA EMINI'S DEATH CAUSED A STIR

After the death of a young woman named Mahsa Emini in police custody in September 2022, Pezeşkiyan, speaking on a state television program, said that the interventions due to the mandatory headscarf law worsened the situation and needed to be ended. Pezeşkiyan stated, "We want our children to be chaste, but if these behaviors alienate them from religion, we should not continue this method."

FOCUS ON ECONOMY AND JUSTICE

Pezeşkiyan, who received open support from former Presidents Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani, as well as former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, emphasized the issues of "ethnic and sectarian discrimination" and the issue of mandatory headscarf in his election campaigns. He promised to solve the problems related to the economy and justice. He promised to lift internet bans to a large extent and emphasized the need for significant reforms and better relations with the West in domestic and foreign policy. Pezeşkiyan became the first reformist figure to be elected President in Iran since 2005.