2nd presidential group debate to be held on Friday

Ehsan Ghazizadeh-Hashemi made the remarks after the Sunday meeting of Electoral Campaign Supervision Committee of the 12th presidential election to be held on May 19.

The first debate focusing on social affairs was held live on state TV on April 28.

A number of candidates complained about the time allocated to them and the officials decided to dedicate a fair share of debate time to all of them during the second debate, Hashemi added.

Ebrahim Raeisi, the custodian of Imam Reza (AS) holy shrine, Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, former minister of culture and Islamic guidance Mostafa Mirsalim and former vice president Mostafa Hashemi Taba, as well as President Hassan Rouhani are the six candidates to compete in May 19 presidential elections.

The candidates are given equal times so that they can introduce their plans in both live and recorded television and radio programs to the nation, based on a specific time-table which has been announced earlier.

Documentaries about each candidate’s biography have also been produced by their electoral headquarters to be aired twice on state television to let those eligible vote know more about their candidates.

Social networks seem to have a significant role in the elections this year as the supporters of each candidate have an active presence in cyberspace.

After 1979 Islamic Revolution which led to the fall of the Pahlavi regime, Iran has held one election each year on average all of which have witnessed large turnouts of the people.

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