Rafsanjani calls on one candidate to represent reformist parties in next elections

Speaking at the reformists' meeting, Iran's ex president Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani said that he would want one candidate to represent reformist parties at the upcoming presidential elections in the country, secretary general of Iran's Freedom Party, Majid Mohtashami said, Mehr reported.

The next presidential elections in Iran will take place on June 14, 2013. The voters will elect the seventh President, successor of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

In order to be admitted to the elections race, the candidate must first be approved by 25 experts that he is a religious person, and also by 100 parliament members, who would be able to confirm that he is who he is on the political stage.

The secretary general of Iran's Freedom Party, Majid Mohtashami has revealed the details of the yesterday meeting of reformists, where Iran's former president Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani participated.

He added that Secretary General of the Democratic Party (Mardomsalari) Mostafa Kavakebian, and Member of Iran Etimad Melli party's Centra Council, Mohammad Javad Haqshinas expressed their views on the upcoming elections.

Mohtashami said that at the meeting all participants agreed that the next presidential elections should be held in a completely free atmosphere, and should be competitive.

According to Mohtashami, Rafsanjani said at the meeting that both reformists and conservatives should participate in this important political event.

"The failure of the current government's management has led to radical decisions, that were followed by stricter sanctions. If the current government could have been more tolerant towards international consensus, the situation in the country would have been more favorable," Mohtashami brought up Rafsanjani's words.

On Oct. 24, Iran has made some changes with regard to the rules of electing country's president.

Namely, Parliament council and interior deals comission's head Hamid Hojasti said that the comission has approved the changes made to the law on the presidental elections in Iran.

According to the new changes, the candidate must be from 45 to 75 years old, and have either master's degree or its equivalent from the seminary of traditional Islamic school of higher learning.

The changes were approved after some 100 hours of discussions, and the necessary changes were made to the artcles 31,33, and 35.

In article 33, it says a "Central Executive Council on elections" should be established, which will include 4 member-panel: the Intelligence Minister, the Interior Minister, head prosecutor and first deputy of the judiciary system.

The Central Executive Council will manage and supervise 30 religious and political figures who will be engaging in preparing the necessary grounds for the elections.