Efforts to Strip Ahmadinejad of his Powers

Roozonline - Former Ahmadinejad Cabinet Ministers Write Letter to Khamenei Months after the idea of changing the political structure of the Islamic republic was launched by remarks made by Iran’s leader ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the flouting of plans to strip the executive branch from implementing national elections, the country’s official state newspaper, Iran, has announced that some former cabinet ministers from Ahmadinejad’s administration have sent a letter to a “senior ranking regime official” calling for the creation of an executive council to run the country and strip the authority of the executive branch.

At the same time, there is a bill before the Iranian parliament, the Majlis, to transfer the authority of managing national elections from the executive branch to a council representing the three branches of government.

While the report in Iran did not identify the person or persons to whom the letter was addressed, there is evidence that supports the notion that it was sent to the supreme leader, who is often referred to as the “senior ranking regime official.” He is also the only person who can make such decisions in the Islamic republic. The story in Iran compares this letter to the one signed by 135 sixth Majlis representatives who had suggested that ayatollah Khamenei follow the footsteps of his predecessor, ayatollah Khomeini, in drinking the “chalice of poison” and compromise with the West.

According to the article in Iran, the letter states that “in view of the sensitive and critical conditions in the country, it is recommended that a council comprising the heads of the three branches of the regime and some other thinkers be created to take over the executive management of the country in the coming year.” The newspaper calls the letter “unfortunate” and argues that the purpose of writing such letters is to “portray the notion that the country is in a crisis and then present unrealistic and supra-legal solutions for an imaginary crisis.”

Last month, some members of the Iranian Majlis had written a public letter calling for the creation of a special council to follow up on the economic problems of the country and by stressing the need to “strengthen national solidarity” had called for this council which should be made up of representatives of all state institutions with special decision-making authority.” The recommendation for that council too was to take over the management of the country’s economy for one year.

Iran asserted that this latest letter was written by former cabinet ministers Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi and Manoutchehr Mottaki, who were respectively the minister of interior in the ninth administration and minister of foreign affairs in the ninth and tenth administrations, both of whom had serious differences with Ahmadinejad. The latter was sacked by the president while Mottaki was on an official visit to Senegal.

In addition, Iran claims that Danesh Jaafari and Farhad Rahbar also had signed the letter. Jafari was the minister of economy in the ninth administration while Rahbar was the last head of the management and planning organization. Jafari was also the head of Mohsen Rezai’s campaign headquarters during his bid for the presidency in 2009.

The article continues, “Based on this plan, the executive branch will be for all practical purposes void of any executive authority and will have no role in the high level management of the country.” The daily, which is under the management of Ali Akbar Javanfekr, an advisor to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, also predicts that Pour-Mohammadi and Mottaki are most likely candidates in the next presidency race in 2013 and adds, “Individuals who for whatever reason broke away from the ninth and tenth administrations asked others to sign the petition but all except only one, declined.”

Baztab website associated with Rezai wrote that Iran published the letter probably because it is legitimate and the possibility existed that it would be accepted by others, so revealing it could be aimed at destroying it.

For more than a year now Principlists have been harshly attacking Ahmadinejad’s administration. They have repeatedly warned that he could have the same fate as Bani Sadr – the first president of the Islamic republic who was ousted from office through a vote of no confidence by the Majlis and fled the country.

Mohammad-Reza Bahonar, the deputy speaker of the seventh, eight and night Majlises, had publicly said that he prayed that Ahmadinejad would remain in office to the end of his term. He had also said that had the supreme leader not desired that the administration stay till the end of its term, Majlis deputies would have impeached him.

Iran newspaper also claims that such letters and other similar efforts are all directed from a think tank with the aim of stripping the president of his powers. It said that this latest letter had been initially signed by 9 Majlis members, including Ahmad Tavakoli, and circulated among other MPs. These actions indicated that they were all directed from the same single think tank.

Amid these letters and attacks, the Majlis has put forward a bill to modify the law on the presidential elections according to which while the ministry of interior will be responsible for implementing the elections, a special council comprising of members from the three branches of government will monitor the implementation of the election law.

Mehr news agency has reported that this bill is set to be pursued by the Majlis and the State expediency Council. Another change in the presidential election law is that candidates for the position will be introduced by a group of religious and political elite. In addition, the bill specifies that political and religious credential of the candidates will have to be verified before they are accepted to run.

By Arash Bahmani