Rouhani Boosted by Ahmadinejad’s Presidential Bid

A lawmaker denounced as “regressive” the move by former president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to enter the presidential contest, noting that it would ultimately play out in favor of the incumbent President Hassan Rouhani’s reelection bid.

Ahmadinejad, a capricious nominee, registered for the May 19 vote on Wednesday despite the recommendation of the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei that he stay out of the race.

He told reporters that he viewed Ayatollah Khamenei’s recommendation as “advice”.

“Ahmadinejad’s decision to stand in elections will work in Rouhani’s favor,” Mohammad Javad Abtahi also said in a talk with ICANA on Wednesday.

“Ahmadinejad believes that principlists should be prevented from taking the control of the executive branch because he has a better interaction with reformists,” he added.

Rouhani’s moderate supporters are in coalition with the reformist camp, whose presidential candidate Mohammad Reza Aref withdrew in Rouhani’s favor in the 2013 election. The chances of Ahmadinejad appearing on the final shortlist of hopefuls appear limited as it needs to be approved by the conservative Guardians Council that vets candidates for all elections, except for city councils.