Iran Presidential Candidates Gear Up for Final TV Debate before Election
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Six candidates racing for the Iranian presidency are going to face off in the third and final round of nationally televised debates on Friday evening, only six days before the election.
Known as one of the most-watched programs in the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting history, the debate today will revolve around the economic issues.
During the past two debates, each of which lasted for more than three hours, the candidates discussed socio-cultural and political subjects.
To be allotted equal minutes of speaking time each, the candidates are scheduled to explicate their plans to deal with the country’s major economic problems after taking the office.
There are six candidates in the race for the highest executive post in Iran, including the incumbent president himself. They have been singled out by the Guardian Council from among more than 1,600 applicants seeking presidency.
Three of the candidates categorized as “reformists” include President Hassan Rouhani, First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri, and Mostafa Hashemitaba.
The other three, known for belonging to the “principlist” political faction, include Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, the chief custodian of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in the northeastern city of Mashhad, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and Mostafa Aqa-Mirsalim.
Overall, each of the candidates have been allocated over 1,100 minutes to talk about their campaign pledges in various radio and television programs aired by IRIB.
On Wednesday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei recommended the candidates to focus on economic issues and the plans to improve the livelihood of people in their campaign pledges.
The presidential election will be held next Friday.
During the previous polls in June 2013, Rouhani garnered 50.7 percent of a total of over 36 million votes.
Authorities say the number of eligible voters in the May 19 elections stands at more than 56,400,000.
