TEHRAN In its parliamentary column on Monday, the daily ****Hayat-e No**** affirmed the comments made by Majlis deputy Akbar A'lami, who had criticized some nominees for trying to win over the Majlis through extensive lobbying in the corridors. ****Hayat-e No ****wrote, "Reports from the Majlis indicate that some elements close to the nominees have mistaken the Parliament for the market and are bargaining with deputies for their support."

Hayat-e No , which is generally considered close to the government faction, is acknowledging the sincere concerns raised by A'lami. In an astonishing comment, Jasem Shadid Zadeh, the Majlis deputy from Ahvaz, in a rather unmannerly way, strongly criticized his colleague for expressing his opinion. As quoted by ***Aftab-e Yazd*** on Monday, Shadid Zadeh condemned A'lami's "stinging tongue" in criticizing the proposed cabinet.

Faced with overwhelming criticism, especially with regard to certain nominees who had extremely unsatisfactory records in their first tenures in office, those campaigning in favor of the proposed list are finding it increasingly difficult to justify this choice of candidates. Consequently, the arguments raised in favor of the proposed list are so weak that they even seem quite naive.

For example, one prominent campaigner has said, "It is necessary for the MPs to approve the credentials of the proposed candidates so that more suitable figures are detected in the future and they should do so for the sake of goodwill."

While this argument is so irrational that it does not need any further elaboration, nevertheless, the honorable deputies should note the following points:

* The ministers are appointed for a 4 year tenure while approximately three years remain of the legal tenure of the 6th Majlis.

* Voting in favor of those candidates who have had an appalling performance record over the past four years would serve as subtle approval of their deficient and shoddy performance.

* A glimpse at contemporary history shows that after receiving a vote of confidence by the Majlis, the appointed minister stands clear of any risk of impeachment for at least two years.

* Considering the fact that this is President Khatami's last term, it is very unlikely that he would risk changing a cabinet member during the remaining four years.

Hence, the Parliament's vote of confidence for the proposed ministers would in effect guarantee an easygoing four years in office for the nominees. All Majlis deputies must bear these points in mind before casting their votes.

The Majlis session continued yesterday, with MPs commenting for and against the proposed ministers.

An MP from Tabriz, Akbar A'lami, whose controversial statements during the Sunday session of the Majlis were widely covered, said that he plans to form a new faction for supervisory affairs.

He said that the new Majlis faction will be made up of MPs without any political inclinations and will respect God, the Constitution, the public and the country's interests.

The 2nd Khordad member of Parliament said that the faction would "manifest the power of the Parliament" and "interrogate the governmental organizations" in such a way as to make people hopeful about the Majlis and the future.

A'lami likened the lobbying between the MPs and ministers to business bargaining, and said that the ongoing consultations between MPs and cabinet nominees, which have the aim of reaching a better understanding of each other's views and winning over skeptics, take precedence.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Ali Younessi said that over the next four years, the ministry would not infringe on personal liberty under the pretext of security.

He said that he respected people's security, stressing that he pursues cultural security rather than a culture of security in the nation.

Also commenting in favor of the nominee for health minister, Massoud Pezeshkian, an MP from the western city of Urumieh, said that the nominee is a determined, knowledgeable and disciplined person.

Shahrbanoo Amani Zangeneh said that those who had been insisting that President Mohammad Khatami should not appoint his cabinet ministers in the traditional manner should now felicitate the president, since Pezeshkian meets all the qualifications of a committed manager who has no political leanings.

In the meantime, Mashhad MP Fatemeh Khatami criticized Pezeshkian's performance during the six months that he served as deputy health minister.

Addressing the nominee, the MP said, "You are opposed to men studying gynecology and this is against the Constitution."

Pezeshkian also made a statement in his own defense yesterday.

Meanwhile, the nominee for cooperatives minister, Ali Soufi, explained his plans to the Parliament.

Soufi said that he would help promote cooperatives, although the cooperative culture has not yet developed in the society. No MP made a statement against him.

Addressing the MPs, incumbent Post, Telephone, and Telegraph (PTT) Minister Ahmad Motamedi said that he considers reforms in the PTT as his first priority.

He also said that he would eliminate monopolies and seek the participation of private companies.

The nominee for commerce minister, Mohammad Shariatmadari, also elaborated on his plans while defending his four-year career in the ministry.

He said that he was the "flag bearer" of transparent policies in the country's economic arena, adding that his ministry is dedicated to production and always tries to develop production.

Parliament Vice Speaker Mohsen Armin said here Monday that the Parliament is the center for the reform movement and the people's aspirations.

The Tehran MP told reporters that the Parliament has borne the brunt of the wrath of the anti-reform movement, adding that, "The Parliament has been the center of the reform movement for several months."

Armin added that due to the variety of views in the chamber, the vote on the cabinet would not be carried out on a factional basis.

Also, Kamal Kharrazi, the current foreign minister and a nominee for the post in Khatami's next cabinet, elaborated on his plans for the ministry.

He said that he would pursue his project of reforms in the structure of the ministry and follow a policy of detente in Iran's foreign relations.

He said that his ministry would also consider economic priorities.

Also addressing the Majlis, the nominee for economics minister, Tahmaseb Mazaheri, defended the Third Five-Year Development Plan, saying that it is the best economic project in the country. He then elaborated on his plans to improve Iran's monetary and banking policies.

Other nominees addressing the Monday session of the Majlis were Esmaeel Shoushtari, the nominee for justice minister and incumbent Cooperatives Minister Morteza Haji, the nominee for education minister.