Prominent Reformist politician Gholam-Hossein Karbaschi, commented on rumours that former Khatami advisor Mostafa Tajzadeh is considering running for President, saying that if the Guardian Council were to approve Tajzadeh, it would be “a good test to see if the people opt for this kind of tone and speaking, or not”. Tajzadeh spent seven years in Evin prison as a result of his dissent during the 2009 post-election protests, and therefore his nomination would be significant. On Tuesday Tajzadeh tweeted that he was still consulting with friends and colleagues on whether he would nominate.
Polls have Vote Turnout as Low as 25%
Reformist member of Parliament Mohammad Sadeghi said that “we need high legitimacy for the presidency, but unfortunately the current situation does not give a positive outlook”. Sadeghi believed the ambiguity around who is going to run, coupled with the dire economic situation, the stress of the cost of living and international tensions have made voters disillusioned.
Abbas Nabavi announces Candidacy
Hojjatoleslam Abbas Nabavi, the director of the Institute for Islamic Civilisation and Development, announced he will run for president. In a press conference, Nabavi presented himself as a moderate candidate, stating that since 1997 politics had been polarised between Principalists and Reformists, and he offered a neutral way forward.
Ghazizadeh announces Candidacy
Hardline conservative politician and deputy speaker of the Parliament, Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, today announced he would nominate to run for President. In his announcement, Ghazizadeh stated that he had a plan for fixing the country’s woes, and he took aim at the Reformists, stating that their past behaviour meant that people were unlikely to vote for them
Faezeh Hashemi: I Prefer to Debate Mr Khamenei
Faezeh Hashemi, one of the only women to declare intention to run, declared in an interview that she would prefer to debate the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei on domestic politics, as opposed to other potential candidates. In the same interview, she also questioned the democratic intentions of both the Reformists and Principalists, and criticised the harassment of women by the Ansar-e Hezbollah group.
Rahami: I am the new-look Khatami
Reformist figure Mohsen Rahami declared if elected, he would be a “new look Khatami with new words”. Stating that if he was allowed to run, he would win 20 million votes, he added that his most important priorities beyond the economy were the protection of the rights of minorities and women.
Poll Suggests Victory for Hardliners
A new poll suggests that voters will pick a Principalist or other conservative candidate in this June’s election, while upwards to 70% of Iranians are dissatisfied with the government of Hassan Rouhani. The results of the poll were published in a conservative paper, Fars, which was ambiguous on its source.