Majlis Gives “Thumbs Down” to President’s Pick for Industry Ministry
IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK
TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani yesterday faced the first backlash from Majlis when it did not give vote of confidence to his pick as the new minister of industry, mine and trade.
In an open session on Wednesday, lawmakers didn’t give their vote of confidence to the proposed minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, Hossein Modarres Khiabani.
President Rouhani did not show up in the session to defend his proposed minister due to the COVID-19 concerns and his First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri attended.
A number of MPs talked before the voting process to support or to oppose the candidate.
Finally, the voting took place and with 104 votes in favor, 140 against and 10 abstentions, Khiabani failed to receive the vote of confidence.
Rouhani appointed Hossein Modarres Khiabani as the caretaker of the Ministry of Industry in mid-May to replace ex-minister Reza Rahmani.
Now president has to get Supreme Leader’s approval for appointing a new caretaker for the ministry for three more months in order to pick another person for the job.
In the vote of confidence session, Modarres Khiabani addressing the lawmakers elaborated his programs in case he was given the vote of confidence.
He said enemies have targeted the economy and they want factories to close and production to halt.
He said one of his programs was to use young managers on course to gain industrial revolution. He also rejected some allegations over appointments of some unfit persons in the ministry, adding that he is against such moves and corruption and he combats with corruption and recommendation for appointment.
He also defended his record as the caretaker of the ministry, saying that he did not let the country face shortage of anti-Coronavirus related items.
Modarres Khiabani claimed that the ministry did not ley any disrupt happen in the market due to the rise in the gasoline price.
His recent remarks about defending the hike in car prices faced a backlash during the session.
