By IANS,
Tehran : The Iranian parliament is abuzz with activity as the Islamic nation prepares for the presidential polls June 12, in a vote that pits incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad against two moderate challengers.
In a statement Wednesday, 211 lawmakers announced their unanimous support for Ahmadinejad in the presidential race. The Iranian parliament has 295 seats.
The parliamentarians noted that Ahmadinejad’s managerial skills, individual charm, efforts to improve the economy and support for Muslims across the world have been the deciding factor, the MehrNews said citing the statement.
However, a minority faction in the Majlis (Iranian parliament) supports former prime minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi in the contest.
In a statement Wednesday, the group said that they valued all the candidates in the fray, including Ahmadinejad and Mahdi Karroubi, a moderate cleric and strong critic of the president, but decided to support Mousavi.
If Mousavi wins, Iran will have an opportunity to change the current unfavourable conditions and the threats facing the country, the statement said.
Iranian election officials have approved four candidates for the June 12 presidential polls.
Among the contenders named by the Guardian Council are President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, ex-premier Mir-Hossein Mousavi, ex-parliamentary speaker Mahdi Karroubi and former head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Mohsen Rezai.
The four were chosen out of 450 hopefuls, 42 of them were women.