Majlis approves nominees for four ministerial posts

MNA -- The Iranian parliament has approved President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s nominees for four ministerial posts.

Of the 245 MPs present for the Majlis session on Wednesday, 216 lawmakers voted in favor of Rostam Qasemi’s appointment as oil minister, 22 voted against, and 7 abstained.

Qasemi is the director of the Khatam-ol-Anbiya Base, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps’ construction contractor.

In addition, 218 lawmakers voted in favor of Mehdi Ghazanfari’s appointment as the industries, mines, and commerce minister, 20 voted against, and 7 abstained.

Abdolreza Sheikholeslami was also approved as the minister of cooperatives, labor, and social welfare with 204 votes in favor, 31 against, and 10 abstentions.

And Mohammad Abbasi was approved as sports and youth minister in a 165 to 61 vote, with 19 abstentions.

On July 2, 2011, the parliament gave final approval to a proposal calling for the merger of the Physical Education Organization and the National Youth Organization to form the Sports and Youth Ministry.

In addition, as part of the administration’s plan to downsize the government, the Industries and Mines Ministry was merged with the Commerce Ministry, and the Welfare and Social Security Ministry was merged with the Labor Ministry and the Cooperatives Ministry.

The Transportation Ministry was also merged with the Housing and Urban Development Ministry.

On June 26, the parliament overwhelmingly approved Ali Nikzad for the post of transport and urban development minister.

According to the Fifth Five-Year Development Plan (2010-2015), the government is obliged to decrease the number of ministries from 21 to 17 to improve the efficiency of the government.

The Fifth Five-Year Development Plan is part of the 20-Year Outlook Plan (2005-2025), which is the country’s main blueprint for long-term sustainable development.

Khatam-ol-Anbiya filled the place of Total and Shell

Before the vote, Ahmadinejad made an address to the MPs, defending his nominees.

Qasemi also outlined his plans in the area of oil industry.

He said that the Khatam-ol-Anbiya Base has filled the empty place of Total and Shell oil companies which stopped investing in Iran following international sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic.

Qasemi added that he plans to make efforts to maintain Iran’s status as the second largest producer of oil among the OPEC countries and to help the Islamic Republic become the largest producer of petrochemical products.

He also said that he has plans to increase the country’s gas exports.

MPs comment on Qasemi’s nomination

Prior to the vote, a number of lawmakers expressed their views about Qasemi’s nomination for the post of oil minister.

Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said, “Some people are saying that the Khatam-ol-Anbiya Base has robbed the private sector of many opportunities due to its great influence in economic activities,” but it is not a correct analysis.

He also dismissed the claims that the IRGC wants to take over the country’s politics.

In addition, MP Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said that a vote for Qasemi is a vote for Iran’s history of resistance.

Motahhari speaks against Qasemi’s nomination

MPs Ali Motahhari spoke against Qasemi’s nomination saying, “I am opposed to the trend of the entrance of military officials into the area of politics, and regard it as harmful to the country’s interests.”

The appointment of a military official to the post of oil minister will increase the IRGC’s political power, and the possession of great economic and political power may lead to corruption, he noted.

In the neighboring countries, military officials are distancing themselves from politics, but it is the other way around in Iran, Motahhari stated.

Accusations have been made against the IRGC in regard to its engagement in an unhealthy economic competition in the country and its entrance in the oil industry will reinforce the accusations, he said.