Majlis Summons Ahmadinejad for Questioning

The Iranian parliament, Majlis, in an unprecedented move today formally summoned President Ahmadinejad to answer questions on his leadership abilities to perform the duties of the office of the president.

Among other things, the MPs have asked Ahmadinejad to explain his 11-day boycott of the office of the presidency last April when the supreme leader reinstated the minister of intelligence who earlier had been fired by him. They are also questioning his support for his chief of staff, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, and his promotion of the supremacy of the Iranian nationalism over Islam as the unifying force for the country.

In total, the MPs have asked 10 questions and the president is now obliged to appear in front of Majlis within a month to present his answers, and defend his policies and his leadership. Below are the summaries of the issues brought under question by the MPs:

• President’s 11-day boycott of his office after Ayatollah Khamenei reinstated the minister of intelligence that had been earlier fired by him.
• Continued support of his chief of staff, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, especially regarding his promotion of Iranian nationalism as opposed to Islam.
• Explanation of a comment made by Ahmadinejad that the Majlis is not the country’s watchdog.
• The president’s lack of support for the laws covering women’s dress and their hijab in the Islamic Republic; and the insistance that the hijab is only a cultural issue.
• The government's failure to grow the economy, considering that the rate of growth according to IMF is at 3%, while the government’s own goal was at 8%.
• The government’s failure to support the industrial and agricultural sectors as demanded and made into law by Majlis during the implementation of the subsidies reform program, leading to widespread rise in prices of goods and services in the country, and endangering businesses.
• The government’s failure to support and expand the metro rail systems in the big cities, as required by Majlis; especially during a period of removal of gasoline subsidies, creating hardship for the public in need of transportation.
• The government’s failure to provide a detailed report on what has happened to a $1.2 billion fund to promote cultural initiatives in the last fiscal year.
• The refusal of the government to introduce a minister for youth and sports for more than five months after Majlis created the portfolio.
• The dismissal of the minister of foreign affairs, Manuchehr Mottaki, while he was on an official visit to Senegal.

Source: Fars News Agency, 7 February. Read the Farsi text here.