Cabinet Voting News From The Parliament

• After MPs' speeches, Ahmadinejad defends cabinet

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has defended his proposed ministers after some lawmakers criticized him over the line-up of his next cabinet

President Ahmadinejad first began delivering a speech in Parliament (Majlis) on Sunday by talking about the plans of the future government and defending his nominees for the ministerial posts.
After his speech, lawmakers took the opportunity to express their viewpoints on the choices, with some criticizing and others praising the proposed nominees.
Some MPs who seemed to be not easily convinced said that the executive experience or education of some of the nominees did not suit the proposed posts and that the president had generally chosen individuals who were loyal to him.
On the other hand, those who spoke in favor of the president said that the slogans of the ninth government -- the first term of President Ahmadinejad -- were in line with the principles of the Islamic Revolution and were approved by the nation.
After receiving different viewpoints on his choices, President Ahmadinejad went back to the podium to defend his introduced nominees.
He rejected claims that the nominees were chosen from those who had close links with him or were linked to certain political groups or ranks of society.
The president then went on to say that it was the management capabilities of an individual that mattered in the choice of his cabinet, dismissing claims that certain nominees' education did not suit the ministries they were proposed for.

He also defended his choice of three female ministers in the cabinet, arguing that the presence of women in society was recommended by the late founder of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
President Ahmadinejad finally urged an effective interaction between the government and the Parliament for a better handling of the country.
The next step is for the 21 nominees to brief the Parliament on their proposed plans for the next four years in the course of the three days of debates that will follow.
To take office, the potential ministers will have to gain the Parliament's vote of confidence by winning the approval of the majority of the representatives.

• Parliament begins 2nd day of voting on Cabinet

Iran's Parliament has resumed a debate for the second consecutive day on vote of confidence for 10 ministers proposed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

The three-day debate on President Ahmadinejad's 21-member Cabinet line-up began on Sunday with some lawmakers criticizing him over the proposed ministers.
In Majlis' Monday session, the lawmakers will discuss for and against 10 nominees who will each have the opportunity to defend their plans.
The lawmakers began Monday discussions with confidence vote of Mrs. Soussan Keshavarz -- Ahmadinejad's pick for the Ministry of Education.
The proponents and opponents expressed their views for and against the proposed education minister with some opponents arguing that she lacks proper credentials for the job.
In the run up to his second four-term in office, Ahmadinejad made major changes to the combination of his Cabinet while he selected three women to head key ministries for the first time in the country's history.
Parliamentary debates over the new cabinet kicked off on Sunday in Iran with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivering a speech about the plans of the future government an in defending his chosen candidates
After his Sunday speech, lawmakers took the opportunity to express their viewpoints on the choices, with some criticizing and others praising the proposed nominees.
Some deputies who seemed to be not easily convinced said that the executive experience or education of some of the nominees did not suit the proposed posts and that the president had generally chosen individuals who were loyal to him.
Leading Principlist lawmakers including Mohammad-Reza Bahonar, Ali Motahhari and Ahmad Tavakkoli raised questions about the Cabinet line-up in political, cultural and economic aspects.
On the other hand, those who spoke in favor of the president said that the slogans of the ninth government -- the first term of President Ahmadinejad -- were in line with the principles of the Islamic Revolution and were approved by the nation.
After receiving different viewpoints on his choices, President Ahmadinejad went back to the podium to defend his introduced nominees.

To take office, the potential ministers will have to gain the Parliament's vote of confidence by winning the approval of the majority of the representatives.

• Ahmadinejad cabinet debate enters third day

Iranian lawmakers resumed for the third straight day on Tuesday the debate over the proposed cabinet of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ahead of a vote of confidence.
The conservative-dominated parliament will hold a vote of confidence on the 21-member cabinet on Wednesday.
The debate began on Sunday and until now six cabinet nominees have presented their four-year plans to lawmakers who have opposed several of them, including a woman minister-designate.
Ahmadinejad has included three women in his new cabinet line-up, the first time in the 30-year history of the Islamic republic that Iran would have female cabinet ministers.

But the three are facing stiff oposition from the country's conservative MPs as well as clerics who complain that they lack ministerial experience.
On Tuesday, the health minister-designate, Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi, a woman, and proposed defence minister Ahmad Vahidi are set to present their plans to lawmakers.

Former health minister and MP Alireza Marandi defended Dastjerdi's nomination.
"She has the credentials and has participated in making proposals on issues related to the health sector. She has been a member of parliament and intends to expand the health plan based on justice," he said.

Vahidi's nomination has triggered an international controversy after Argentina raised objections to his candidacy.
Argentina has called for Vahidi's arrest for his alleged role in a 1994 Buenos Aires bombing that killed 85 people.
In 2007, Interpol formally distributed an Argentine arrest warrant for Vahidi to its 187 member countries.
Argentine prosecutors allege Iran masterminded the bombing and entrusted the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to execute it.

No single individual has ever been convicted for the bombing -- the worst terrorist attack in Argentina, which has the largest Jewish community in the Americas outside the United States.
Ahmadinejad, whose re-election on June 12 triggered the worst crisis in the Islamic republic and divided the country's clerical groups, is under fire from his own hardline supporters over several political decisions he took soon after his election victory.
Analysts claim that securing a mandate from the parliament would be a daunting task for the embattled Iranian president.

Afp & Heber