Parliament officially acknowledged the receipt of a motion to impeach Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati during its Wednesday session, marking the start of a 10-day time frame for holding a hearing and a vote of confidence.
The petition had been submitted on Nov 28 to the Majlis Presiding Board, which referred it to the Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Commission for further review, IRNA reported.
After revision, it was presented back to the board on Tuesday carrying 44 signatures, well above the threshold to launch an impeachment process. As per the parliament’s procedural law, at least 10 lawmakers should sign the motion.
Hojjati is now required by law to appear before parliament to answer the lawmakers’ question within 10 days.
He is to be questioned about his perceived failure to fully and properly implement the law on the guaranteed purchase of agricultural products, the provisions concerning the agriculture sector under annual budget plans, the exemptions on interests, commissions and late payment fees for the loans paid to farmers suffering damage from unexpected incidents.
