KERMAN -- People should vote with a proper understanding of the situation and the movements and safeguard their votes, Majlis Deputy Speaker Mohammad-Hassan Abutorabi-Fard said in Kerman on Tuesday.

“People are the government’s pillar,” Abutorabi observed in a ceremony held to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the departure of the Founder of the Islamic Republic, the late Imam Khomeini.

Those who reach power by the people’s vote should not forget their allegiance to Imam Khomeini, he stated.

If the Islamic government failed to tightly hold the reins of power, the ground would be prepared for the nullification of the Constitution, he stated.

Pointing to the Supreme Leader’s emphasis on the need to implement Article 44 of the Constitution in order to confront poverty, Abutorabi said that if poverty were eradicated in a society, it would facilitate managers’ efforts to establish justice.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei issued an executive order on July 5 calling for the privatization of state companies as per Article 44 of the Constitution.

It is not suitable for a politically independent country to lack economic power, he said.