Reports: Ahmadinejad may face confidence vote in parliament

[babylonsister]

Reports: Ahmadinejad may face confidence vote in parliament

updated 8 minutes ago


TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad fired two members of his cabinet, and may have to face a vote of confidence in parliament for the final few days of his current term, two semi-official Iranian news agencies reported Sunday.

But the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted a government official as saying that only one cabinet member was fired, so no such vote would be needed.

Iran has 21 ministries. According to the country's constitution, if more than half the cabinet members are changed in a single term of presidency, a vote of confidence in Iran's parliament is required. During his presidency, Ahmadinejad has replaced nine cabinet members. Two more would make 11 -- more than half the total.

Ahmadinejad, whose controversial victory in presidential elections in June stoked widespread unrest in Iran, is scheduled to be sworn in for his second term during the first week of August.

The Iranian Labour News Agency and Fars News Agency -- both semi-official -- said Sunday that Ahmadinejad had fired intelligence minister Mohseni Ejeie and culture minister Saffar Harandi.

Fars said that after firing Harandi, the president was trying to get him to come back in order to avoid a confidence vote.

more...

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/07/26/iran.ahmadinejad.vote/index.html

[DCBob]

1. This sounds significant but who knows in that f'kd up country..

I found the statement from IRNA official amusing -- "only one cabinet member was fired, so no such vote would be needed."

[babylonsister]

2. Except that two other news agencies put the lie to that...

sounds like Ahmadinejad acted too soon, or didn't know the rules.

The Iranian Labour News Agency and Fars News Agency -- both semi-official -- said Sunday that Ahmadinejad had fired intelligence minister Mohseni Ejeie and culture minister Saffar Harandi.

[DCBob]

3. Good. Hope this escalates...

I think something big could happen there.

[formercia]

4. He's self-destructing

too much for Ahmadi.

[babylonsister]

5. Let's hope it works! nt