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Bahonar says five to six presidential hopefuls should run for presidency

Iran Press TV

Arash Khalatbari, Press TV, Tehran

Sun Apr 28, 2013 12:31PM GMT

So far there are around twenty would-be candidates who have announced their bids to run for president in Iran.

While some say having many presidential hopefuls is a sign of democracy, others take it to be a problem.

Mohammad Reza Bahonar, Deputy Speaker of Iranian Parliament, who himself is among presidential hopefuls expressed his opinion on the issue in a press conference after talking about the weak and strong points of President Ahmadinejad's cabinet.

Bahonar belongs to the largest Principlist coalition known as "Coalition of Five".

Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran's former Foreign Minister also belongs to this coalition.

"Coalition of Three" which is comprised of Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, lawmaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, and Ali Akbar Velayati, a top advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, is also another Principlist group, that will be seen as a heavyweight in the race.

Velayati, who served as Iran's foreign minister for 16 years, held a press conference in Tehran on Tuesday. In part of his presser, he touched upon presidential race, saying:

Besides Principlists, Reformists and Independents are also two other camps that have announced their bids for the June 14th presidential election.

Hassan Rohani, former Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council is seen close to the reformists. He is also said to have the support of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, former Iran's president and head the expediency council.

Another council member, Mohsen Rezai, has also announced his decision to run for president. He could be named as a leading independent candidate. Mohammad Saeidi-kia, another hopeful who served as minister in different administrations is also among the independents.

"Jebheye Paydari, or the Perseverance front" has also formally announced his hopeful: Kamran Baqeri Lankarani, former health minister.

Many experts say the different groups and parties should come up with few would-be candidate, but only time will tell if this will happen.