Vetting of ministerial hopefuls kicks off at Iranian Parliament
Iranian lawmakers started debates on the credentials and backgrounds of 19 individuals on the short list for the cabinet of new President Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi, with the formal sessions on votes of confidence slated for next week.
According to Tasnim news agency, the Iranian Parliament is going to have a busy week, with 270 meetings at specialized commissions in four days to vet the new president’s proposed ministers.
The spokesman for the Parliament’s Presiding Board said that the vetting process will go on until Tuesday, August 17, noting that the ministerial candidates will be attending the meetings of 14 expert and two special commissions to explicate their plans.
Nezameddin Mousavi also said the formal sessions on the vote of confidence for the ministerial picks will begin on August 21 and continue for four days.
He noted that President Raeisi is free to take part in the parliamentary meetings on the vote of confidence to defend his picks.
In the president’s absence, the first vice-president can attend the upcoming sessions, the MP added.
President Raeisi submitted the list of his proposed ministers to the Parliament on August 11 after his swearing-in ceremony. He had two weeks to submit his new cabinet to the parliament, but drew up the shortlist in only six days.
If any of the proposed ministers fails to win a vote of confidence, President Raeisi will have up to three months to name a replacement.
ME
