Televised debates likely to be cancelled

MP Fatemeh Alia stated on Tuesday that televised debates among presidential candidates may be cancelled as certain candidates have expressed displeasure over the move. However, she said the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting should go ahead with holding the debates.

Talking to the MNA, she noted that debates between candidates make people more conscious of issues than debate between their representatives.

Ahmadinejad is far ahead of Mousavi

Rouhollah Hosseinian stated on Tuesday that latest statistics indicate that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad enjoys 20% more support than Mousavi.

He also said some newspapers had announced that just 80 MPs back Ahmadinejad in the presidential race while 205 MPs have signed a petition expressing their support for the incumbent president to clear up such ambiguities.

Mousavi will grab 70% of votes

Abdolvahed Mousavi-Lari stated on Tuesday that some opinion polls conducted by official bodies indicate that Mousavi will grab 70-80% of the votes in the election.

Talking to reporters in Gorgan, the member of reformist Association of Combatant Clerics said that polls show that 60% of people will not vote for Ahmadinejad.

He noted that Mousavi’s votes are increasing in an accelerating rate as the election date is approaching.

Calls rise for televised debates between candidates’ representatives

Veteran MP Mohammad-Reza Bahonar stated on Tuesday that televised debates must be held between the candidates’ supporters in the days leading up to the election.

He said that holding TV debates between allies is very important because it would lead to an elaboration of the candidates’ plans.

Former MP Emad Afrough also stated that televised debates between the candidates’ representatives have a great influence on people’s awareness.

He said that debates will provide an opportunity to answer questions and clear up ambiguities in candidates’ remarks.

He said that the TV should allocate enough time to allies to debate and answer questions in a professional way.

No progress without using all potentials

Presidential hopeful Mir-Hossein Mousavi stated on Tuesday that economic development is not attainable without using all the country’s potentials.

Talking in a university in Tabriz, he condemned a “security view” toward universities, saying he believes that people’s security is more important than the administration’s security.

Mousavi also emphasized that all groupings should have a voice in managing the country to promote liberty, saying it has been one of the principles of the Islamic Revolution.

He noted that unfortunately “strategic and macro plans” have no place in the policies set by the current administration.

Karroubi says candidates are in fierce competition

Presidential challenger Mahdi Karroubi stated on Tuesday that candidates are in “real” competition in this round of election. He also said that the competition is not easy as one contender (Ahmadinejad) enjoys all the facilities while others don’t.

Talking in the city of Lordegan in Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari Province, he added that the society is ready for a “change”.

Rezaii says Mousavi became PM on his suggestion

Presidential hopeful Mohsen Rezaii has said Mir-Hossein Mousavi owed his post as the prime minister to him.

“At that time, I asked the Imam (Khomeini) to make Mir-Hossein Mousavi prime minister. And if it were not for my request, he would not have become the prime minister,” he said in a speech at Allameh Tabatabaii University on Tuesday.

He also stated on Tuesday that he will cooperate with anyone who is elected president if he himself fails to win the post. “I am ready to serve my country and the society in any post,” he told the Mehr News Agency.

He said it does not matter to him to hold a senior post or not, adding what is important to him is to serve the nation.

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