Sunday, September 19, 2010

Majlis Speaker Criticizes Ahmadinejad– Asserts Authority of Majlis

In a sign of growing schism among the Iranian leaders, the country’s powerful Speaker of Majlis today criticized president Ahmadinejad over his remarks yesterday that the parliament no longer has the final authority over governmental affairs.

"If Imam Khomeini (the founder of the Islamic Republic) said Majlis has full authority, it was to prevent the re-emergence of dictatorship in Iran," Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said today in response to Ahmadinejad’s remarks.

"Parliament should supervise lest the government deviates from its course," Larijani added [Fars News Agency, 19 September 2010].

Ahmad Tavakoli, one of the leaders of the conservative faction in Majlis, said that Ahmadinejad's remarks should be and would be reviewed in a joint meeting of Majlis, the government and the Guardian Council scheduled for tomorrow.

“Based on the Iranian Constitution, the president and his cabinet are accountable to people, Majlis and the Supreme Leader," Tavakoli added.

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