Azerbaijan, Baku, May.20/ Trend, R.Zamanov
Presidential Candidate Mohsen Rezaei said that principle based groups need to form a 400-member elite assembly to pick a frontrunner for the June 14 presidential election.
Rezaei, who is the Secretary of State Expediency Council, has said that he stepped aside in favor of other principle based candidates in previous elections, and that it's now their turn to withdraw in his favor, the Fars News Agency reported.
According to Rezaei, politicians, lawmakers and academics could be members of the proposed elite assembly.
Rezaei also criticized the Ahmadinejad administration for the current state of the economy, including high inflation and unemployment rates.
He promised to reduce dependence on petro-dollars by propping up domestic manufacturing industries, if he becomes president.
The Guardian Council, which is vetting its candidates, is set to submit the list of approved candidates to the Interior Ministry on Tuesday.
Iran will hold the 11th presidential election on June 14, 2013.
The voters will select the successor of the current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is not able to participate in the elections for the third term according to the country's constitutional laws.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election and the Guardian Council vets the candidates for qualifications.
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