Post date: May 12, 2013 12:24:25 PM
Iran-Election/Fighting -- Chaos takes over Iran's election registration site atInterior Ministry
China Central Television (CCTV) - Chaos took over the registration site for Iran's president election at the Interior Ministry, Tehran on Saturday.
Saturday marks the final day of the official registration period for Iran's 11th presidential election. To show his support to candidate Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei, current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei showed up together at the Interior Ministry. After Mashaei's registration for the election, President Ahmadinejad and Mashaei co-hosted a press conference.Upon the conclusion of the press conference, to everyone's surprise, Ghadiri Abyane, former ambassador to Italy, took over the podium, and criticized Ahmadinejad's policy rigorously.
According to Ghadiri Abyane, the six-month inspection of Ahmadinejad across Iran was aimed at seeking votes for Mashaei, and 50 billion toman (about five million U.S. dollars) has already been spent.
Over 680 candidates, including Iran's former President Akbar Hashemi-Raf-san-jani, close aide to the current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Es-fan-diar Rahim Mashaei and Iran's top nuclear negotiator and the secretary of the country's Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili have registered to stand in the election.
Raf-san-jani now stands as the main hope for reformists. A win by Ras-fan-jani could open the way for an easing of tensions with the outside world. On the other hand, Mashaei would mark a continuation of Ahmadinejad-era policies. Mashaei has long been Ahmadinejad's close confidant.
Jalili is a veteran from the war with Iraq during the 1980s, where he lost his right leg. He heads Iran's team of negotiators in dealing with world powers on Tehran's controversial nuclear activities. The fate of the hopeful candidates will then be left in the hands of the Guardians Council. The Council will vet the applicants before announcing the final list of candidates no later than May 23rd. Approved candidates will then have three weeks to campaign before polling day on June 14th.
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