Iran election: Rafsanjani launches pay-per-vote campaign

Iran Focus: Tehran, Jun. 17 – Residents in northern Iran say that they are being offered money and lunch to take part in today’s presidential elections. They complained that members of Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani’s campaign team are roaming the streets in cities across Mazandaran province, urging people to vote in return for 250,000 Rials ($25) and a free hot lunch. Iran Focus

Tehran, Jun. 17 – Residents in northern Iran say that they are being offered money and lunch to take part in today’s presidential elections.

They complained that members of Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani’s campaign team are roaming the streets in cities across Mazandaran province, urging people to vote in return for 250,000 Rials ($25) and a free hot lunch.

One resident said that Haj Moussa Vafayan, head of Mazandaran’s Chamber of Commerce, had ordered his staff to go to nearby towns and villages to offer the sum on behalf of Rafsanjani.

According to a member of the cash-paying team, who wished to remain anonymous, said that a second massive pay-per-vote campaign was planned to start at 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.