However, as it was expected, the parliamentarians rejected Hossein Baghgoli, the nominee for the post of education minister. Only 76 MPs voted for him.

286 MPs were present in the 290-seat parliament.

According to law, each nominee had to receive half of the parliamentary representatives’ votes plus one to be confirmed as minister.

The proposed justice minister, Amir Hossein Rahimi, garnered the highest number of votes, with 277. However, the proposed sports and youth minister, Hamid Sajjad, received the least number of votes. He got 165.

During four days of discussions, legislators talked in favor or against the proposed ministers.

Following is the number of votes each proposed minister received:

Agriculture Minister Javad Sadatinejad: 253 votes

Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Mehdi Esmaeili: 181 votes

Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Minister Ezatollah Zarqami: 262 votes

Communications and Information Technology Minister Issa Zarepour: 256 votes

Defense Minister Mohammadreza Ashtiani: 274 votes

Economy and Finance Minister Ehsan Khandouzi: 254 votes

Education Minister Hossein Baghgoli: 76 votes

Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian: 220 votes

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian: 270 votes

Health Minister Bahram Einollahi: 214 votes

Justice Minister Amin Hossein Rahimi: 277 votes

Industry, Commerce and Mining Minister Reza Fatemi: 205 votes

Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib: 222 votes

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi: 266 votes

Labor and Social Welfare Minister Hojat Abdolmaleki: 191 votes

Oil Minister Javad Oji: 198 votes

Science, Research and Technology Minister Mohammad Ali Zolfigol: 210 votes

Sports and Youth Minister Hamidreza Sajadi: 165 votes

Transport and Urban Development Minister Rostam Qassemi: 267 votes

Prior to the voting, President Raisi defended his proposed cabinet team.

As a last word for defending his choices, Raisi said that the nomination of ministers was based on the criteria he had promised the people during the presidential campaigns.

“I promised to select ministers based on the indicators such as expertise, anti-corruption and popularity,” he said.

He emphasized that the practical and scientific competence had a major impact on the nomination of ministers.

The president added his “absolute condition” for nominating all ministers has been their anti-corruption spirit.

Raisi said corruption will not be tolerated by any person at any position in his government.

“It will not be tolerated when it becomes clear that the person who cooperates with the government will show the slightest unhealthiness, not in the position of a minister, but in any other position,” he asserted.

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President Raeisi attended an open session of the parliament on Saturday along with his deputy Mohammad Mokhber and his chief of staff Gholam Hossein Esmaeili.

The president started with an outline of his plans for the next cabinet, saying they have been devised to ensure justice and progress in Iran.

“We know that the time for service is short and the pains and problems of the people are numerous,” Raisi said.

He pointed to efforts aimed at containing the coronavirus pandemic as a top priority, saying boosting the country’s economy and improving the livelihood of the people are also high on his agenda.

President Raisi said his proposed list of ministers constitutes young and experienced figures, whose main characteristic is commitment to working diligently and fighting corruption.

The president defended the cabinet make-up, saying he had tried to choose the most qualified in various fields.

“The line-up is not based on a specific organization or political party,” he said. “Any causal, relative and family relationship or pressure from an individual, current or party has absolutely had no role in the nomination and selection of ministers.”

Raisi has said his plan is to form a “popular government”. Its roadmap for transforming Iran, he said on Saturday, is to push for the “excellence of the Islamic and Iranian culture”, develop a “resistance economy”, improve the livelihood of the people especially low-income groups, develop international relations based on national interests, and promote Iran’s inspirational role in the Islamic world.

The resistance economy is a concept proposed by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in 2016 to leverage domestic capabilities in order to overcome gaps resulting from US policies to restrict business with Iran and insulate the economy from sanctions or hostile foreign activity.

The president noted that short- and mid-term plans have been formulated to tackle the country’s problems.

“You are well aware of the situation,” he told the parliament. “Solving the problems of inflation above 44% declared by the Statistical Center or more than 55% of the Central Bank, a sharp devaluation of the national currency, a significant budget deficit, severe power shortages and hardships, high liquidity growth, high government debt and other issues is possible, but it requires a plan. It also needs an efficient force that can be transformative in any part of the country.”

President Raisi described Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, his pick for foreign minister, as a person with sound knowledge and expertise in his major.

“Balanced foreign policy, development of neighborly relations, prioritization of economy in foreign interactions and activation of economic diplomacy will be high on the Foreign Ministry’s agenda,” he said.

Raisi went on to defend his choice for Iranian defense minister, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, saying he is a prominent figure among members of Iran’s Armed forces and very well-informed of military affairs.

Iranian legislators started debating the ministerial picks in an alphabetical order. One supporter and one opponent of each nominee gave a speech.

Addressing the session, MP Karim Hosseini said Iran is definitely at a critical juncture, and a high vote for President Raeisi’s cabinet signifies the Islamic Republic’s power, and the authority of the establishment.

“The new administration is expected to address the concerns of the nation, especially those that have been expressed in recent years by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah (Seyed Ali Khamenei) and the country’s sympathizers,” he said.

Hosseini cited economic stability, resolution of livelihood problems, strengthening the business environment, promotion of justice in the society, elimination of injustice, securing legal freedoms, fight against corruption, and further attention to cultural issues as major concerns of Iranians in recent years.

On August 13, Raisi submitted the list of his proposed ministers to the parliament to receive a vote of confidence.

The formal sessions on the vote of confidence for the ministerial picks will reportedly continue for four days.

The post Raisi Outlines Plans as Majlis Debates His Picks for Cabinet appeared first on Iran News Daily.

Rouhani had attempted a cabinet reshuffle by proposing Farhad Dejpasand as the minister of economy, Mohammad Eslami as minister of transport and urban development, Mohammad Shariatmadari as minister of cooperative, labor, and social welfare, and Reza Rahmani as minister of industry, mine and trade.

Eslami received 151 yeas, 98 nays, and 8 abstentions. Shariatmadari received 196 yeas, 63 nays, and 5 abstentions. Dejpasand received 200 yeas, 50 nays, and 15 abstentions. Rahmani received 203 yeas, 49 nays, and 13 abstentions.

Dejpasand says cooperation is key to resolving economic issues

Dejpasand, President Rouhani’s pick for economy minister, told lawmakers one of his plans is to establish centers with the aim of boosting cooperation among the administration, parliament, private sector and academia in order to resolve the economic issues.

Dejpasand referred to his experience during Iraq’s imposed war against Iran in the 80s as a model he has since followed to succeed. “We were faced with an economic war during that time as well, but with our high social capital we managed to succeed,” he said.

He pointed out that immediate measures need to be taken to prevent hyperinflation, explaining, however, that the Economy Ministry’s capacities are not enough to reach that end.

Pointing to the difficulty of raising the necessary financing in today’s economy, Dejpasand said, “In the current situation, financing must be one of our plans, which can be pursued through domestic and foreign investment.”

He also said the banking system must be reformed before any major economic decision.

“The first issue Mr. Rouhani brought up in our meeting was the need to reform the banking system,” he said, adding that the top banks of the country are currently suffering from several issues.

He went on, “Overdue debts is one of such issues. We should gather and think to collect such debts. There should be incentive and punitive mechanisms.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Dejpasand pointed to the high level of liquidity in Iran’s economy, saying the liquidity should be turned into a tool to revive the economy.

Head of Majlis Production and Employment Committee later spoke in favor of Dejpasand, saying he is able to unify the Economy Ministry with the Planning and Budget Organization and the Central Bank of Iran.

“In the past years, a lack of coordination in the administration’s economic team was a major concern, but with Mr. Dejpasand such coordination will be formed,” Qolamreza Kateb said.

MP Ramezanali Sobhanifar also spoke highly of the proposed economy minister and said Dejpasand “was one of the effective individuals in drafting the sixth five-year development plan.”

He added that Dejpasand’s plans are in line with the general policies of the Islamic Republic and the resistance economy.

Ali Sari, who represents Ahwaz in the parliament, criticized the proposed economy minister, saying his “plans are just theory and it is impossible to put them into practice.”

Dejpasand has not proposed any practical solutions to resolve the economic issues, Sari said.

Shariatmadari promises transparency

Shariatmadari who was proposed as minister of cooperatives, labor, and social welfare said during his speech at the parliament that it is only transparency that can help fighting corruption.

“If there is corruption in an executive body and that body recognizes it, it [the body] should be praised,” he said.

He said that he will create infrastructures that make all the Pension Fund’s operations transparent.

Ruhollah Babaee Saleh, an MP who represents Buin Zahra, spoke for vote of confidence to Shariatmadari and described him as a “determined person in fighting organized corruption”.

It is notable that Shariatmadari is familiar with challenges in society, he said.

He also said that Shariatmadari is capable of coordinating related bodies for the country’s sustainable development.

Vali Maleki, an MP who represents Meshginshahr, was against appointment of Shariatmadari.

He said that Shariatmadari observes moral codes, but did not take any practical action to solve economic problems when he was at committee of industry for about one year.

He noted that no manager can be successful if he does not have goals to achieve in his plans.

Gholam Ali Jafarzadeh Emenabadi, an MP who represents Rasht, was also for giving vote of confident to Shariatmadari and called him a “guerrilla in the current [economic] war”.

“Enemies seek to exert pressure against the Iranian people and Mr. Shariatmadari is experienced enough to help,” he said.

Eslami says will prioritize strategic plans

Eslami was the third proposed minister to speak in defense of his plans for the Ministry of Road and Transport.

He said if made minister, he would prioritize strategic plans to facilitate the progression of developmental plans under current economic situations.

Eslami said he will have highest on agenda the Sixth Development Plan, removal of hindrances to production, and improvement of business environment.

MP Mohammad Reza Rezaee Kuchi, the head of Majlis Development Committee, spoke in favor of Eslami, saying the current shortcomings could only be tackled through the nominee’s plan of attracting finance.

“There are 2,970 unfinished plans in on the ministry’s agenda which cannot be funded through bonds or treasury documents. The only effective way to put them back on track is by what Mr. Eslami says he plans to employ, that is, domestic and foreign finance and the private sector cooperation.”

Then MP Mohammad Feyzi spoke against Eslami, raising doubt that he has any plan for the ministry.

“Was it not through the resignation of one minister that you were nominated? Because what I have my colleagues have heard is that your nomination was decided after an overnight negotiation and lobbyism,” Feyzi told Eslami.

Rahmani announces plans for production and employment

Rahmani was the last proposed minister to defend his agenda for the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade.

He said he would prioritize production and stable employment. “I will not use a crisis [management] room, but will turn that room into one for prevention and treatment,” he said.

He added that he had a plan to create an online “production and trade dashboard” for the live reporting of production and trade figures.

He also said his ministry would have special plans for the renovation of the transportation fleet.

MP Mahmoud Sadeqi spoke against Rahmani, saying he has no plan for the auto industry, among others. “Rahmani’s plans have no agenda, for example, for the amount of auto imports or electric cars,” he noted.

“There is no mention of the sanctions and post-sanctions eras in the industrial sector. Nor is there any plan under the extraordinary situations for the survival of businesses,” Sadeqi said.

Ali Asghar Yusofnejad was the next MP to speak. He defended Rahmani.

Rahmani has ample eligibility for the position, regarding his education resume and executive record.

He also said Rahmani’s plans adhere to the major state policies concerning his proposed area of supervision.

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