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| Majority of MPs support Rohani’s proposed cabinet |
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.jpg) TEHRAN – New Iranian President Hassan Rohani attended an open session of the Majlis on Monday and defended the 18-member cabinet he proposed on his inauguration day on August 4, calling all his nominees “experienced” and “far-sighted.”
The parliament, which is dominated by conservatives, will vote on the proposed ministers on Wednesday.
During Monday’s session, five MPs spoke for and five MPs spoke against the composition of the proposed cabinet.
The 10 MPs had been selected from among 148 and 18 lawmakers who had registered to speak in favor of and against the proposed cabinet respectively.
The nominated ministers have to defend themselves before the lawmakers by the voting day.
If a nominee fails to win confirmation, the president will have three months to pick a new candidate for the post.
In a speech defending his choices, Rohani said, “No party, group, or faction put pressure on me while making decisions about the ministers, and no (proposed) minister can be regarded as the share of a certain faction.”
The nominees were selected based on the principles of meritocracy and moderation, Rohani said, adding that members of his proposed “extra-factional” cabinet “are conscientious figures of the system, loyal to the Leader, and ready to cooperate with the system.”
He also reiterated that the priority of his cabinet would be to help resolve the country’s economic problems and reduce the international pressure being exerted on Iran.
MPs’ vote will not only be a vote for individuals and will be a vote for the government as well, Rohani said.
MP Hossein Tala predicted earlier this week that the proposed ministers of oil, education, science, transport, and labor may fail to receive a vote of confidence.
Defending proposed oil minister Bijan Zangeneh, who served as energy minister under Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani and was oil minister in Mohammad Khatami’s cabinet, Rohani said that the oil ministry required “active diplomacy”, which can be efficiently pursued by his nominee.
On his nominee for education minister, Mohammad Ali Najafi, the president said that Najafi had good plans and his experience in the education sector could prove helpful.
Najafi was education minister in Rafsanjani’s cabinet.
Commenting on his pick for science minister Ja’far Mili-Monfared, Rohani said that his nominee had promised to pursue a moderate path in regard to universities and could interact well with all active factions in universities.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Rohani defended proposed labor minister Ali Rabee’i, who served as an advisor to president Khatami, and praised him for his proper understanding of social issues.
The centrist president also called Abbas Akhoundi, who served as housing and urban development minister under Rafsanjani, the best possible nominee for the post of transport minister.
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