Iran’s President, Speaker Clash in Majlis

- Larijani Questions Ahmadinejad’s Character 

- Ahmadinejad Accuses Larijani Family of Corruption

- Majlis Impeaches Ahmadinejad’s Minister of Labor

Iranian Majlis, led by Speaker Ali Larijani, today delivered a blow to President Ahmadinejad by impeaching his minister of labor and Larijani publicly humiliated Ahmadinejad by saying that he lacks proper manners for a sitting president.

Ahmadinejad himself had earlier accused Larijani and his family of corruption and produced an audio recording of Larijani’s brother to support his corruption charges. Larijani reacted by saying that playing the tape showed Ahmadinejad's lack of character.

“Our problem is that our president does not observe the basics of proper behavior,” Larijani told Majlis. “Why did you discuss this issue here?”

“Actually it's a good thing ... that you played this tape today, so that the people better understand your character,” Larijani added. (EA World View, 3 February)

After a sharp exchange of words and accusations between the president and the speaker, Larijani refused to allow Ahmadinejad continue with his case against him and his family and asked him to leave the Majlis.

“Unfortunately you do not observe ethical and moral values in your words. Please leave,” Larijani told Ahmadinejad. (EA World View)

Majlis then voted to impeach the minister of labor.

File Photo: Larijani at speaker’s podium; Ahmadinejad preparing to address the Majlis (IRNA)

Economy Minister Survives Impeachment Vote

By a vote of 141-93, the Iranian parliament, Majlis, today rejected a motion to impeach Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Shamseddin Hosseini. Despite anger over a recent $2.8 billion banking scandal, Mr. Hosseini could survive. President Ahmadinejad told the MPs before their votes that impeaching Hosseini would be a setback for iran’s efforts to fight international sanctions.

Majlis Begins Impeachment Proceedings Against Minister of Economy

The Iranian parliament, Majlis, has begun the impeachment proceedings against the Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Shamseddin Hosseini. Mr. Hosseini is blamed for lax leadership in preventing the recent $2.8 billion bank embezzlement case, specifically his “failure to apply the rules related to the economy minister's duties with respect to banks and financial and monetary institutions” [Fars News Agency, 1 November].

Under the Iranian constitution, the Majlis can impeach an individual minister by a simple majority vote, in effect issuing a vote of no confidence in the minister. In today’s session, MPs opposed to the minister make their case, and then Mr. Hosseini defends his records before the vote on his impeachment. President Ahmadinejad is present in Majlis and has already delivered a speech defending his economic minister.

Majlis Summons Ahmadinejad for Questioning

Unprecedented Move in 33-Year History of the Islamic Republic

The Iranian parliament, Majlis, today reversed its decision made on Tuesday and decided to summon President Ahmadinejad for questioning on a range of issues, expected to include the following:

- The decision earlier this year to sac his intelligence minister only to be vetoed by the supreme leader and then refusing to go to work for 11 days in protest,

- The declaration last summer that Ayatollah Khomeini’s edict that ‘Majlis is above all other (government) institutions’ was outdated and does not apply to the current situation,

- The continued support of his chief of staff and political confident Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie and his circle of supporters, labeled as “deviationists” by the conservatives,

- A record of ignoring and not executing the laws passed by Majlis, including a bill to fund the Tehran Metro through the government’s hard currency fund for the expansion of the metro system,

- A lack of leadership on economic issues, including the country’s meager economic growth, rising inflation, and unfinished subsidy reforms.

The case will now go to the Majlis special committees for investigation. The article 88 of the Iranian constitution states that the president can be summoned by the written request of at least one-forth of the deputies and must appear before Majlis within a month of being summoned.

Today’s decision by Majlis is the first time in 33-year history of the Islamic Republic that the Article 88 has been invoked. The proceedings could lead to the president's impeachment.

Ahmadinejad’s Cabinet Minister Impeached

The Iranian Majlis today impeached the Minister Of Transportation Hamid Behebhani. The minister, a close ally of President Ahmadinejad, was dismissed from his job by a vote of 147 in favor, 78 opposed with nine abstentions. His impeachment came in the wake of several deadly plane crashes in the country in the recent month. During the impeachment proceedings, Behbahani was criticized for mismanagement, financial misappropriations as well as plane crashes.

The vote also highlighted a rapidly growing rift between Ahmadinejad and his former conservative allies in the parliament. Yesterday, his new foreign minister received the fewest approval votes cast for confirmation of a new minister. Ahmadinejad and Behbehani did not attend the impeachment proceedings, provoking many speakers to denounce the no-show as a violation of the parliamentary procedures.

"That the president orders his minister not to attend the parliament session is the ugliest sign of disrespect to the house. Respect for parliament and preventing dictatorship require us to vote in favor of impeachment," said Ahmad Tavakoli, a prominent conservative member of the parliament.