Ahmadinejad: Revival of the Islamic Civilization

Rooz Online:

Ahmadinejad’s cabinet nominees were officially presented to the Majlis (Parliament) while women photographers and international reporters were not allowed to attend, and the small reformist deputies kept silent throughout the session. The president then introduced his team, and the deputies began their comments.

The opponents of the nominees called Ahmadinejad’s 6-page statement “a collection of beautiful words” that had no bearing on the program or plan of a “friendly and justice-seeking” cabinet. The cons they listed were: the presence of extreme hardliners among the nominees, the presence of the military in the different walks of life, and, absence of justice in the stated goals of the Ministers-to-be. READ MORE

Emad Afrough mentioned dictator Reza Shah’s coup to kill the Constitutional movement of the early 21st century Iran, suggesting the current political situation in Iran had produced extreme hardliners after years of liberalism. Shahbaz Khani complained of the wide presence of the military and the lack of emphasis on the rule of law between the ruled and the rulers. Mahmud Abtahi spoke of the uncontrolled and unleashed capitalism that he feared was going to become the rule of the land with the cabinet and their policies. He asked for an explanation on how the government was going to meet its stated goals of strengthening production and improving employment when it also aimed at integrating in the world economy that would open the influence of international organizations in the country economic decision-making process.

In his talk, Ahmadinejad stressed his goal of spreading Islamic values and justice, and combating deviance. He called on strengthening the wellbeing of the Haj pilgrims, education at all levels including the mosques, religious education and the Quran. Regarding international issues, the president called on to revive the Islamic Iran’s civilization again which would negate the current system of global domination. “Justice speaks the first word,” he said regarding foreign affairs suggesting he would direct his energies towards strengthening ties with the developing Islamic world rather than the rich industrialized countries. He called on using the foreign exchange reserves of the country to develop the deprived regions of the country. This issue had been a battle field between Khatami’s government that did not wish to use the reserves and the hardliners in or outside the political system who advocated using that fund. Political observers have said that Ahmadinejad’s government is likely to provide access to the para-military Baseej forces to use this fund for development purposes. There have even been reports that the whole development budget of the country may be given to the Bassej. It should be noted that Baseej falls under those organizations whose transparency in operation and organization has been questioned by the reformers and its accountability lies outside the reach of elected officials.

Regarding his cabinet choices, Ahmadinejad pointed out that his goal had been to create a unified team, a diplomatic word meaning non-conformist and single-minded. When talking about Safar Herandi who is a nominee for the post of the Minister of Culture and oversees the media, he praised a man whose record at Kayhan newspaper is a synonym for closeness and harsh means. In presenting his Minister of the Interior, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, he spoke of his experience in security issues, while some deputies had objected to looking at this government department as primarily a security providing agency.

What stood out during the first session is that even those deputies who had stood along with Ahmadinejad, now appeared concerned about the direction the government was taking and the individuals who had been handpicked behind closed doors to take the helm of the ship in troubled waters.