Iranian Presidential Election: Hopefuls Face Off in Final Debate

Local Editor

The six candidates contesting Iran's 12th presidential election face off in their third and final live televised debate.

During the debate on Friday, the contestants elaborated on their economic plans and agendas as they campaign for the May vote.

The first televised debate saw the aspirants sparring and addressing sundry issues. The second one was much more heated, with candidates aiming directly for each other's past and present performances.

The debate gathered incumbent President Hassan Rouhani, First Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri, Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, member of Iran's Expediency Council Mostafa Aqa-Mirsalim, Sayyed Ebrahim Raeisi, the current custodian of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza [PBUH] in the northeastern city of Mashhad and former vice president Mostafa Hashemi-Taba.

Iranians will go to the polls on May 19 to elect the country's next president.

In the final segment of the debate, the six candidates offered their concluding remarks which was mainly a summary of their previous comments.

The following is a brief look at what the candidates said in the debate:

Hassan Rouhani:

Rouhani said if reelected, he will remove the remaining sanctions imposed on Iran as he removed all the nuclear-related sanctions on the country in his first term in power.

He said he has no plan to cut the monthly cash subsidies paid to low-income Iranian people. Rouhani, however, argued that the increase in monthly cash handouts promised by other candidates will rise inflation rate to above 50%.

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf:

Qalibaf said that the system of taxation must become fair. Minor producers and businesspersons have to be exempted from paying taxes, he argued.

Urging the necessity to deal with unemployment problem, Qalibaf said that based on official statistics, the number of jobless Iranians are 3.5 million. He said that unofficial sources put the number of the unemployed between 6 and 7 million.

Ebrahim Raeisi:

Raeisi argued that poverty has exacerbated during the government of President Rouhani, increasing from 23% to 33%. He reiterated his previous promises to increase monthly cash subsidies paid to the low-income people.

Mostafa Mirsalim:

Mirsalim said that economic prosperity has to be coupled with an increase in provision of goods and services. He accused the government of President Rouhani of creating recession in its attempt to rein in inflation.

Eshaq Jahangiri:

Jahangiri said if the next government tries to triple the cash subsidies, it will act contrary to its goals.

Mostafa Hashemi Taba:

Hashemi Taba hailed government's achievements in curbing inflation, saying that increasing cash subsidies would lead to a drastic rise of inflation rate.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team