Some MPs, Labor Unions, Oppose Labor Min’s Impeachment

Tehran, April 3, IRNA – Following proposed plan for impeachment of Cooperation, Welfare and Labor Minister’s impeachment due to his appointment of former Judge Sa’eid Mortazavi at his new post, some MPs and labor unions here Monday voiced opposition to that proposal. According to the government’s information website further quoted the head of the Parliament’s Social affairs Commission Hadi Moqaddasi as saying, “Since governing the country’s affairs is up to the government, the other branches of the power have no right to interfere in executive affairs.” Moqaddasi who was speaking with that website in an exclusive interview added, “Regarding the appointment of the new head of the Social Welfare Organization I cannot opine personally, because the government has definitely abided by the necessary rules and regulations and the competence of the new head of that organization by the concerned organs has surely by acquired in advance, and on the other hand, it is the cabinet ministers’ right to choose the managers for various posts and survey their technical competence for those roles.” Pointing out that impeachment is the people’s representatives’ role at the Parliament, and one of the most important supervision lever of the Majlis (Parliament), he reiterated, “Impeachment at times that the government malfunctions, or breaches the laws is the representatives’ right, but we must see under what conditions and resorting to what kind of justifications the proposal for impeachment is put forth.” The head of the Parliament’s Social Affairs Committee referring to the point that the 8th Parliament is passing its last days, added, “Presently we are under such conditions that heeding the Supreme Leader’s desires must be atop our agenda, and to do all we can to boost cooperation and friendly interactions among the embers of the three branches of power in practice.” Moqaddasi emphasized that the Parliament has no intention to interfere in executive affairs, adding, “I hope this matter would be resolved relying on greater interaction and cooperation between the Government and the Parliament, and the new Managing Director of the Social Welfare Organization Mr. Sa’eid Mortazavi would as the First Vice President Mr. Mohammad-Reza Rahimi hoped at his inauguration ceremony, manage to solve the problems with which the insurance clients have been entangled thus far and improve that organization’s status more than ever before.” The Secretary of the Country’s Islamic Labor Council, Nasser Borhani, and too voicing his opposition with impeachment of the Cooperation, Labor and Welfare Minister emphasized that the Supreme Leader’s commands on cooperation and harmony between the Parliament and the Cabinet members must be the paradigm of everyone. Borhani, too, in an interview with the government’s information website added, “The moves made by Dr. Shikholeslami during his tenure registered very fruitful steps in his trilateral approach, namely the activation of the Supreme Employment Council, paying attention to the labor unions and heeding the retired veteran office workers’ affairs better than ever before. Under the current conditions, propagating over the impeachment of the managing director of the Welfare Organization, whose appointment is naturally among the legal rights of the minister, is illogical.” According to Borhani, keeping in mind that the Cooperation, Labor and Social Affairs Minister is an approved personality both for the president and for the Parliament, his management moves and decisions are OK from the viewpoint of the Islamic Labor Union’s representatives. Borhani at the end stressed that political tendencies should not be involved in technical issues and discussions. The representative of Sanandaj, Divandarreh, and Kamyaran Constituency, too, announcing that impeachment of the Cooperation, Labor and Social Welfare Organization is illegal under the current pretext and the ongoing conditions, argued, “The impeachment discussions, keeping mind that the runoff election is ahead, is a kind of election hostage taking.” Abdol-Jabbar Karami reiterated in an interview with the Government Information Website, “Since this impeachment is not in line with the people’s interests and it aimed at political and election objectives, I am opposed to it and I will not sign its petition.” He emphasized that he does not mean to insult his colleagues at the Islamic Parliament, reiterating, “This move of the Parliament is in contrast with the comments of the Supreme Leader, who in his New Year message emphasized need for cooperation and harmony among the Parliament representatives and the cabinet members.” The MP referred to the point that impeachment is a right of the people’s representatives, adding, “In the Constitution impeachment is among the major supervision tools at the disposal of the representatives, but the objectives of this impeachment differ. I hope the MPs objectives would always be materializing the people’s rights, not pursuing political objectives, and I advise my colleagues who are pursuing this impeachment’s matter, if they respect the Supreme Leader’s remarks and they are his true followers, delay this impeachment till after the runoff election’s time so that if there is any suspicion about their intentions, it would be eliminated.” Pointing out that this petition would definitely not acquire the required votes to be passed, he said, “I hope beginning the functioning of the Parliament in this New Year would not be synonymous with objecting the Supreme Leader’s remarks.” Another MP, Kazem Farahmand, said, “Appointment issue of the new head of the Welfare Organization can be solved in a conference between the MPs and the cabinet members and therefore, there is no need for the impeachment of the Cooperation, Labor, and Social Welfare Organization.” The representative of Bafq, Behabad, Mehriz, Abarkouh, and Khatam Constituency at the Parliament added in an interview with the Government Information Website, “The impeachment right is preserved for the MPs at times when the matters could not be resolved in consultation and through harmony, but in case of appointment of the head of the Welfare Organization no need to impeachment is felt.” He added, “Under such conditions that the present Parliament’s tenure is approaching its end and at the beginning of the working days of the (Iranian) New Year it would have been much better if we would have spent the Parliament’s time for more important issues, such as the 1391 (2012-2013) budget.” Farahmand further reiterated, “The appropriate thing to do in this regard is holding consultation sessions between the Parliament representatives and the cabinet members and to solve the matter there, because the problems between these two organs can be better solved that way.” Farahmand said, “There is therefore really no need to impeach the minister resorting to that pretext which can be solved in a consultation session, or two.” Member of the Parliament’s Agricultural Affairs Commission reiterated, “Keeping in mind the Supreme Leader’s comments, the Parliament had better heed more important issues instead of discussions on impeachment and serve the people’s interests more effectively.” The reprehensive of Some’eh-Sara Constituency at the Parliament, too, believes appointment of former judge Sa’eid Mortazavi at the Social Welfare Organization is none of the business of the Parliament members, and no good excuse for impeachment of the minister.” Kazem Delkhosh added in an interview with the government’s website, “Under the prevailing conditions there is no need for impeachment of the Cooperation, Labor, and Welfare Minister, because an impeachment has its own time and is in need of its require conditions, while at this Parliament the majority is opposed to impeachment, and this petition would bear no fruit.” He added, “Keeping in mind that the runoff election round time, too, is approaching, putting forth such discussions is neither in the benefit of the MPs, nor serving the country’s interests. I believe the issues should be pursued through their natural process and the appointment of Mortazavi is none of the Parliament’s business so that the MPs would enter such discussions and prepare petitions for the matter.” Delkhosh reiterated, “Keeping in mind that the Supreme Leader has asked for harmony and cooperation between the Parliament representatives and cabinet members, the Parliament must pave the right path and the MPs should let every matter pave its procedural and appropriate path.” The Head of International Job Opportunities of Iran, Hassan Karabsi, too, said in an interview with the government site, “It is a pity that some MPs rather than supporting national production and the people’s welfare, are after political work and personal demands.”/end