Kavakebian, the secretary general of the reformist Mardomsalari Party, who represents the city of Semnan in the Majlis said he believes those lawmakers who implemented the plan of questioning Ahmadinejad have achieved their goal because after eight rounds of holding Majlis in more than 30 years, they could finally break the taboo of posing questions against the President.
Chief Editor of the news daily Mardomsalari remarked in an interview in his newspaper: "The lawmakers were able to summon Mr. Ahmadinejad to the floor of Majlis where they carried out their legal duty based on articles 88 and 122 of the Islamic Republic of Iran's constitution."
"From their own view, the government officials regarded the session of questioning in Majlis as a victory for themselves, since at an unequal debate - due to procedural guidelines of the Majlis - they could attack Majlis and weaken its status. With recourse to illogical jokes, Mr. Ahmadinejad could pass the tenfold quiz of 79 lawmakers," he said.
"I believe the lawmakers who conceived the questions did honestly fulfill their duty and Mr. Ahmadinejad did nothing except insulting MPs particularly those who raised the questions. Obviously, the judgment of the public opinion has been against him and his unsubstantiated answers, which were out of legal basics," secretary general of Mardomsalari Party stated.
The questions lawmakers asked the head of administration included violating 50 articles of the Constitution, rapid implementation of subsidy reform plan which cut energy and food subsidies compensating them with paying direct cash to people. After being implemented, the plan heightened the inflation rate and hiked up prices critically for the poor and the middle class.
Other setbacks included delay in allocating funds to the Metro of Tehran, delay in introducing the Minister of Sports and Youth, and measures adopted by the government in putting the ratified cultural plans into practice. But the resistance of Ahmadinejad against a decree issued by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who reinstated Minister of Intelligence Heydar Moslehi topped the query.
Earlier, Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani also censured the language and jokes used by Ahmadinejad who mostly shunned giving proper and persuasive answers to parliamentarians’ inquiry. Larijani stressed that the President’s conduct was below the dignity of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Parliament, and Majlis is not a place for joking and having fun.
Kavakebian went on to say: "I felt during his speech, Mr. Ahmadinejad denied the truths which had already been asserted by four officials and official institutes including former Foreign Minister, the Expediency Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Comptrollers Office and Transport Deputy of Tehran's Municipality. After President gave his answers to the lawmakers, they protested against his remarks by issuing statements or taking part in interviews."
"As a matter of fact, several lawmakers who had already conceived the questions which asked from Mr. Ahmadinejad are to introduce a political inefficiency plan based on article 2 of principle 89 of Iranian constitution after the New Year's holidays which leads to the President's interpellation," the representative of Semnan announced.
"However the plan would be simply carried out on the condition that first, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei is not against that. Second, Mr. Ahmadinejad is not to drop his unjustified remarks, to take the 10 questions asked by the lawmakers not into consideration and ignore improving governmental tasks based on law. Third, at least 100 lawmakers approve to sign the related document," he said.
Kavakebian noted: "Based on article 2 of principle 89, if at least one third of parliament members decide to interpellate the President as the head of the executive body of the country, he will be duty bound to attend the floor of Majlis within a month to respond."
"Some say that the interpellation plan could not be implemented by the end of the eight Majlis. However, I believe even if the plan is submitted to the presiding board of the Majlis up to 18-19 April, Mr. Ahmadinejad will have enough time to respond by 18-19 May," the lawmaker added.
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