Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, August 13, 2020—Tensions flared in the Iranian regime’s Majlis (parliament) on Wednesday, August 13, as members began questioning a new candidate presented by mullahs’ President Hassan Rouhani for the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade. Rouhani’s candidate failed to acquire enough votes and internal disputes erupted as Rouhani himself had refused to attend the session for his own minister-candidate. It is worth noting that the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade is known as a source of corruption and plundering, and senior regime officials are constantly arguing to obtain a larger share.
Following the rejection of Hossein Modarres Khiabani for this ministry, Rouhani’s three-month period to manage this ministry with a caretaker came to an end and he now needs a state order from regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei from this day forward.
Rouhani refused to take part in this Majlis session and Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf claimed the National Covid-19 Task Force had recommended he not attend. Furthermore, contradicting decisions regarding the country’s college entrance exams and the fact that these exams are to be held despite being initially postponed, have all added to internal disputes on the Majlis floor and one MP called for impeachment measures targeting Health Minister Saied Namaki.
“Why is the National Covid-19 Task Force banning Rouhani’s presence here but a million or so gathering for college entrance exams is permitted? I am demanding impeachment measures against the Health and Science ministers, not for their decision or indecision regarding college entrance exams, but for them playing with the people’s trust, with the credibility of the National Covid-19 Task Force. When people themselves say we can’t abide by the health protocols, what has suddenly happened in the past 24 hours that authorities are giving a green light for college entrance exams,” asked Hossein Shojaie Ali Abadi, a member of the regime’s Majlis, on Wednesday.
“Majlis regulations indicate that the President must be present when a minister candidate is present. This is a clear violation of Majlis regulations and an insult to this body because he is not present here,” said Alireza Salimi, another Majlis member.
“Those people previously in the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade who carried out measures in favor of the vehicle and steel industries, while taking advantage of the steel industry retirees, they are behind the recent measures these days,” said Hamid Reza Haji Babaie, a Majis member from the city of Sari.
“Mr. Khiabani first needs to answer what happened to all the foreign currencies purchased at extremely low and discount amounts?” asked Majlis member Masoud Gudarzi. “Mr. Khiabani should be placed in the witness stand and held accountable, not in a position of a minister candidate. What’s going on here? People are laughing at us. Mr. Rouhani, you had no other candidates? Are you ridiculing the Majlis?”
“In any other country such a candidate would have been prosecuted for their disruption of the country’s economic state, not presented as a minister candidate,” another Majlis member shouted.
