Labor Minister nominee wins Iranian Parliament’s confidence vote

The Iranian Parliament (Majlis) concluded a vote of confidence in President Seyyed Ebrahim Raiesi’s pick for the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare.

According to Tasnim news agency, the Iranian legislators on Wednesday debated the qualifications of Sowlat Mortazavi as the proposed nominee to lead the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare.

The lawmakers approved Mortazavi as the new minister of labor with 176 votes in favor, 64 against, and 13 abstentions.

The president’s previous pick for the Ministry, Mohammad Mahdi Zahedivafa, had failed to garner the minimum number of votes by the Parliament on October 4.

A ministerial nominee needs 50 percent plus one vote to win the vote of confidence from the Parliament.

The former Minister, Hojjatollah Abdolmaleki, resigned from the administration in June after coming under mounting criticism for his handling of the labor market and a meager rise in retirement pensions.

ME