Controversy Over Labor Minister in Khatami's Second Cabinet
The party earlier approved of Khatami's decision to replace Kamali with Presidential Advisor Ali Rabiee, but when Rabiee refused to accept the portfolio and the position was offered by the president to his impartial supporter Mehralizadeh, this was strongly disapproved by the IIPP.
Now, the IIPP has to put up with either Kamali or Mehralizadeh. Either case means a great defeat for the party.
Other reports indicate that the IIPP is urging the president to replace Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi with Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Sadr. According to the same reports, the party has not achieved any success in this regard either.
The replacement of Education Minister Hossein Mozaffar with Alaqmandan is almost confirmed, while the Minister of Science, Research and Technology Mohammad Moin will most probably be among Khatami's nominees for his second cabinet, which is expected to be announced on Sunday.
Health Minister Mohammad Farhadi is most likely to be replaced by Pezeshkian, the reports further said.
According to other reports, the chief of staff of the President's Office, Hojjatoleslam Mohammad-Ali Abtahi, will be replaced by the president's brother, Ali Khatami. But Abtahi will instead be appointed as the vice president for parliamentary affairs.
Head of the Planning and Management Organization Mohammadreza Aref is believed to be replaced by the director of Social Security Organization, Mohammad Satari-Far.
Mohammad Sadouqi, who just resigned his post as vice president for parliamentary affairs, is expected not to be appointed to any positions in the next cabinet.
If the post of vice president for executive affairs is maintained, Mohammad Hashemi, the current holder of the post, and Cooperatives Minister Morteza Haji will be the likely candidates for the position.