The Majlis on Sunday called off a planned vote to impeach the education minister, offering some respite to the embattled government of President Hassan Rouhani.
Twenty-nine lawmakers signed a motion last Wednesday to impeach the minister, Mohammad Bathaei, but all of them withdrew their signatures.
“With schools reopening (on September 23), those demanding impeachment have withdrawn their request,” said Ahmad Amirabadi, a member of parliament’s presiding board, ISNA reported.
Rouhani is under mounting pressure from lawmakers over his handling of the economic decline, partly triggered by the withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal and re-imposition of sanctions.
Parliament sacked his labor and economy ministers last month, and Industries Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari is reportedly next in line who could be forced to rush for the exits.
Rouhani himself was in the parliament last week to answer critical questions from lawmakers – the first time in his five years in power, and the second time for a sitting president. Economic grievances played a role in Bathaei’s planned impeachment, with lawmakers criticizing the reduced budget for education and renovation of old and dilapidated schools. Senior officials have often pointed out that the minister or his peers simply have no power or influence over budgets.
