Raisi faces criticism as parliament begins debates on his ministers

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President Ebrahim Raisi defended the qualifications of his proposed ministers in Iran’s parliament (Majles) on Saturday morning, in a session that opened to debate the qualifications and plans of each candidate in the coming days.

After several decades where parliament and cabinet have come from different political backgrounds and often opposing political factions, this is the first time that lawmakers and the proposed president and his ministers have come from the hardline conservative political camp. Yet the debates of the first day reflect serious divisions between the Majles and the administration.

In his speech, Raisi said he had chosen “a cabinet to improve Iran’s economy and fight corruption.” Raisi then outlined his plans for the next cabinet, insisting that they are supposed to guarantee justice and progress in Iran.

“We know the service time is short and people’s aches and pains and problems are many,” Raeisi said, adding that containing the Covid-19 pandemic was high on his agenda. His next priority, he said, is to boost the country’s economy and improve people’s livelihoods.

Raisi added that his ministers are “young but otherwise experienced, diligent and dedicated to the cause of fighting corruption.” He asserted that “the composition of the cabinet is not based on any specific organization or political party”, and stressed that “family relations or pressure from an individual or a party played absolutely no role in the appointment and selection of ministers “. “

Over the past week, one of the recurring criticisms of Raisi’s cabinet concerned his family relationship with future education minister Hossein Baghgoli.

In a sarcastic Twitter post, reformist commentator Sadegh Zibakalam wrote that “despite all the rumors, Raisi’s choice of ministers has not been affected by the influence of civilian and military officials or by political pressure.”

According to Raisi, his ministers’ plans are based on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s doctrines of jihadist economics and the second stage of the Islamic revolution. Khamenei coined terms such as resistance economics to offer an alternative to the public for his intransigence in talks with the United States and the West.

Raeisi said his foreign policy plan was to develop international relations based on national interests and promote Iran’s inspirational role in the Islamic world, but he did not comment on nuclear talks with the West, suspended since June pending the formation of its government.

Later, during Majles’ session, several lawmakers defended the proposed ministers and their plans while five others voiced their criticism. The defense statements were nothing more than rhetoric to appease Khamenei and Raisi. Critics, however, have stressed that they expect more than what the proposed ministers are offering in their plans.

Mohammad Hossein Hosseinzadeh Bahraini, a lawmaker from Mashhad said the country’s serious problems and how to deal with them were not included in the ministers’ plans.

Hassan Nowrouzi, member of the Majles legal committee asked if the new ministers are really capable of fighting corruption. “Can they create an interest-free banking system? Or will they continue the current situation? He asked.

Mallek Fazeli, from Saravan, stressed that in their plans, ministers ignored the pandemic as the country’s most pressing problem. He said this should be a priority for everyone, not just the Minister of Health. Everyone in government should focus on immunization, Fazeli said.

Ali Babaei Karnami, Sari’s lawmaker, voiced his opposition to the economy minister’s plans and said they did not reflect popular concern over the country’s 45% inflation rate.

Jalal Mahmoudzadeh, a Sunni lawmaker questioned Raisi’s statement that his cabinet was not factional and asked, “Which of your ministers is from outside of your own faction?” He added: “With your economic team drawn exclusively from your close friends, the country’s economic problems are unlikely to be solved.”

Meanwhile, Chabahar MP Moeinoddin Saeedi criticized Raisi for not having women in his cabinet. “It’s unfortunate,” he said. The Deputy Chairman of the Majles Committee for Home Affairs Mohammad Reza `Sabbaghian called on Raisi and his ministers to transparently list their personal property on a public website.

No response was given to any of the questions asked by lawmakers on Saturday. However, Raisi and his ministers will have time to answer these questions by the end of the debate.

The Majles will be debating the ministers’ plans over the next few days. Nonetheless, it was announced in parliament that the Majles, in a very unusual gesture, would vote on the cabinet on Tuesday. It is still not clear whether this will replace confidence votes for individual ministers.

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