The Times
President Ahmadinejad faces a confrontation with Iran’s disgruntled Parliament after packing his proposed Cabinet with inexperienced cronies and purging it of critics.
MPs including Ali Larijani, the Speaker, warned that as many as 6 of the 21 nominees stood scant chance of being approved when parliament votes on his list in nine days.
Commentators said that the nominees reflected the President’s weakness after his re-election.
An analyst in Tehran told The Times: “He’s in defensive mode, there’s no question about that. He doesn’t have the strength, tenacity and confidence he had before.
“For him it’s imperative to surround himself with cronies and people who don’t disagree with him if he’s to have any chance of pushing through his programmes.”
The proposed Cabinet “largely consists of loyalists with a security background”, Gala Riani, an analyst with IHS Global Insight, said.
Even before the turmoil of the past ten weeks Mr Ahmadinejad had few friends in parliamentbut Conservative MPs joined criticisms of the president for failing to consult them and nominating unqualified people.
“A ministry is not a place for apprentices,” Mr Larijani said. “Ministers must have enough experience and expertise, otherwise a huge amount of the country’s stamina will be wasted.”
Last month six ministers protested when Mr Ahmadinejad tried to appoint his son’s father-in-law as his deputy in defiance of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader. All have been removed. (Read more...)
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