Iran's ailing economy has fast become the focus of election campaigning, with candidates putting forward various proposals for dealing with rampant inflation and escalating unemployment.Candidates have mostly shied away from blaming sanctions for Iran's economic situation, instead hinting that the poor state of the economy is a result of bad management by the Ahmadinejad administration.
Key themes that have emerged include an over-reliance on imports, a decline in national production and rising unemployment.
Speaking on Iran's state Jam-e Jam television channel on Saturday night, Presidential candidate Mohammad Gharazi --- the least-known of the eight candidates --- told overseas Iranians he planned to address these issues by creating jobs.
Gharazi said Iran needed to boost domestic production and that job creation schemes would help curb inflation.
Meanwhile, Presidential candidate Saeed Jalili has addressed the issue of the economy directly and via a campaign slogan of "economic justice".
Jalili has criticized the fact that Iran's wealth is concentrated among a relatively small number of individuals.
Of the 70 thousand billionT#Iran's market liquidity, 11.6 billions belongs to 6 persons!#jalili#iranelection
Dr Saeed Jalili (@DrSaeedJalili)May 26, 2013
Speaking on state television on Saturday night, Jalili also said that some threats to Iran's economy were "internal" and added that it was possible to "turn these threats into opportunities".
Presidential Election Watch: Haddad-Adel To Give Press Conference At Fars News
Presidential candidate Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adelis to give a press conferenceat Fars News in Tehran at 3.30 p.m. Sunday, according to Fars.
Fars --- who provide a biography of Haddad-Adel --- say that the presser will be attended by "national and international media".
Presidential Election Watch: Jalili, Velayati, Aref To Appear On State TV
Fars News --- close to the Revolutionary Guards ---reports thatPresidential candidates Ali Akbar Velayati, Saeed Jalili and Mohammad Aref will each appear on state television on Sunday night, as part of their permitted election campaign broadcasting allocations.
Jalili will have a 30-minute slot on national television at 8 p.m. Tehran time to "meet with the Iranian people".
Velayati will have a special 45 minute interview with IRIB's Hassan Abedini at 10.45 p.m., where he will answer questions on the economy, culture and politics.
Aref has been given the final election slot of the day at 11.30 p.m., when he will appear on the Jam-e Jam TV channel to answer questions from Iranians abroad.
Candidates will be permitted to begin broadcasting special election promotions from Monday, according to Fars.
By Enduring America
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