Majlis Starts Examining Ministerial Nominees’ Plans, Qualifications

The Iranian parliament on Saturday morning announced the receipt of the list of new President Ebrahim Raeisi’s proposed ministers and expert commissions immediately started debates on their plans and qualifications. 
“The ministerial nominees will present and discuss their plans with lawmakers in 14 specialized and two special commissions,” Spokesman of the Majlis Presiding Board Nezameddin Mousavi told reporters, adding that the process takes one week based on law, ISNA reported. 
By the end of this week, 270 evaluation sessions will have been held where parliamentarians examine the 19 candidates’ plans, experiences, credentials and past activities, he said. 
The nominees have already uploaded their profiles and information on the specified website for lawmakers’ easy access. 
Apart from the commissions, according to Mousavi, the potential ministers will attend sessions with the specialized factions of the parliament depending on their area of activity to elaborate on their backgrounds and plans. 
“From the beginning of next week and for four days, the candidates’ qualifications will be examined in the Majlis open sessions after which the legislature’s final vote for each minister will be announced,” he said. 
The parliament will work in two, and if needed in three shifts so that the process will be concluded in four days, he added. 
The president is free to attend the evaluation sessions for any of his proposed ministers to defend his picks. In his absence, his first vice president can participate in the vote of confidence session. 
Raeisi, who was elected as president on June 18, submitted the list of his cabinet to parliament on Wednesday. He had two weeks since his swearing-in to submit the list, but drew it up in only six days.
If any of the proposed ministers fails to win a vote of confidence, Raeisi will have up to three months to name a replacement.
Majlis will also asses the new government’s large-scale plan which was presented by Raeisi in a letter along with the cabinet list. The parliament speaker announced the receipt of the document on Saturday and it was uploaded on the Majlis website, according to Mousavi.