Azerbaijan, Baku, June 3/ Trend F.Eminli
The method of holding debates for the upcoming presidential election in Iran was changed, ISNA quoted Iran's deputy general attorney Nasser Seraj as saying.
Multiple-choice tests and pictorial discussions have been removed from the debates. He also said that the timing of broadcasting the debates has been changed.
On May 31, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Secretary of Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, President of the Center for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, former First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi held debates on live television in Iran, discussing various problems and challenges that need to be tackled by the new government.
However, the eight candidates were left unsatisfied with the way the televised debates were held.
Aref said that people should judge about candidates. He added that this way of holding debate is insulting.
Mr. Morteza Heidari, the coordinator of the debate said that 20 different scenarios had been proposed with the cooperation of academicians and finally this method was approved by the headquarters for election campaigns.
The debate had been arranged so that it looked like a TV show. The candidates had to answer multiple-choice tests and explain their feeling about certain pictures.
The IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) says due to the high number of the candidates, it is not possible to hold face-to-face debates such as those which were held before the 2009 elections.
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.