Iranian principlist presidential hopefuls, Alireza Zakani (L) and Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel[/caption]Principlist Iranian presidential hopefuls Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel and Alireza Zakani have criticized rival hopeful and former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani for signing up in Iran's June 14 presidential election.
Haddad-Adel on Tuesday blamed Rafsanjani for showing poor judgment following Iran’s 2009 presidential vote.
Zakani also said on Wednesday that Rafsanjani cannot win the race, and could emerge victorious “only if Principlists were divided; so Principlists need to stay united.”
Rafsanjani served as Iran’s president from 1989 to 1997. In 2005, he ran for a third term in office, but he lost the race to his rival Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Iranian presidential hopeful and Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has also questioned the performance of Rafsanjani during his terms in office.
A total of 686 individuals signed up for the race during the registration period, which began on Tuesday, March 7 at Iran’s Interior Ministry and ended on Saturday, March 11.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election; and the Guardian Council vets the hopefuls, approving or not approving them for official candidacy.
The Iranian Constitution stipulates that presidential candidates must be religious or political figures, be Iranian by origin, have Iranian citizenship, possess managerial skills, have no criminal record, be trustworthy and pious, and have firm belief in the fundamental principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the country’s official religion.
By Press TV
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