Former advisor to the Iranian president Ali Akbar Javanfekr has withdrawn his bid for presidency in favor of the presidents former chief of staff.In a statement on Monday, Javanfekr, who is the former top media aide to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the former CEO of IRNA, announced that he made the decision after consultations with the incumbent president and in respect to his opinion.
He is appealing to the electorate to vote for hopeful Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei in the 11th presidential election on June 14.
Javanfekr said that Rahim Mashaei can follow the path of the current administration to lead Iran towards prosperity and progress.
The former advisor registered to participate in Irans presidential election before the registration deadline ended on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi, another pro-Ahmadinejad hopeful, also withdrew from the 11th presidential election due to heavy executive responsibilities.
...My participation [in the presidential race] is likely to slow down or bring to a halt some of the heavy executive responsibilities. Therefore, I decided to pull out, Rahimi said.
The registration of hopefuls for Irans 11th presidential election began on Tuesday March 7 at Irans Interior Ministry and ended on Saturday March 11.
A total of 686 individuals signed up for the race.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election, and the Guardian Council vets the candidates to determine if they have the qualifications to serve as president.
The Iranian Constitution stipulates that presidential candidates must be religious or political figures, be Iranian in origin, have Iranian citizenship, possess resourcefulness and managerial skills, have no criminal record, be trustworthy and pious, and have firm belief in the fundamental principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the countrys official religion.
By Press TV
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