Iranian Parliament Turns on Ahmadinejad — Votes to Send Him to Court
- Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:33am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran‘s parliament voted on Wednesday in favor of taking Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to court over what lawmakers say is a violation of the country’s constitution stemming from the president’s move last month to declare himself caretaker oil minister.
The vote in the conservative-dominated assembly is its latest action against Ahmadinejad since the president in April publicly challenged Iran’s highest authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
That challenge was triggered by Ahmadinejad’s attempt to sack the powerful intelligence minister, Heidar Moslehi, a move Khamenei blocked. Although Ahmadinejad publicly backed down in the confrontation with Khamenei weeks later, it emboldened his hard-line rivals in parliament.
And last month, Ahmadinejad incurred the wrath of the Guardian Council — Iran’s constitutional watchdog body — when he sacked Oil Minister Masoud Mirkazemi under a Cabinet reshuffle plan and declared himself caretaker oil minister.
The confrontations appear to be part of a power struggle ahead of parliamentary elections next year and the vote for Ahmadinejad’s successor in mid-2013.
It‘s unclear whether Wednesday’s vote in the 290-member parliament will actually be followed by charges or a a lawsuit against Ahmadinejad, but it clearly pits the majority of the lawmakers against the president.
The legislators voted 165-1 to refer Ahmadinejad to the country’s judiciary after a parliament committee report concluded his action in taking over the oil ministry was an “obvious violation of the constitution.” Remaining lawmakers were either absent or abstained from the vote.
Lawmakers were upset after Ahmadinejad last month restructured the Cabinet by combining eight ministries into four without seeking the lawmakers’ approval. The president has the power to dismiss ministers and put caretakers in place for up to three months without parliament’s approval.
But when Ahmadinejad declared himself caretaker oil minister, the lawmakers said it was an illegal move, some even alleging the president sought personal control of Iran’s most moneymaking body. Iran also holds the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ rotating presidency this year.
“This illegal and hasty action will damage the Islamic Republic of Iran’s interests on the global level,” the parliament committee report said. “As (caretaker) oil minister, Ahmadinejad has issued and will continue to issue orders that are obviously illegal interference.”
In another sign of the lawmakers’ confrontation with the president, about 50 legislators have signed a petition to summon Ahmadinejad to appear in parliament to answer questions. At least a fourth of the lawmakers have to sign before a president can be questioned. If successful, it would be the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that a president is forced to answer questions before the Iranian assembly.
Those behind the petition want Ahmadinejad to respond to a long list of accusations, including refusing to carry out laws passed by parliament, withdrawing money from state funds without authorization and his alleged lack of transparency on budget spending.
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Comments (88)
Slowman101
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 10:24amI hope the country implodes.
Report Post »Xyskalla
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:58amImplodes? Why would you want that? Don’t you know that North Korea rated Iran as one of the five happiest nations on earth? Why do you hate happiness so much?
Report Post »Contrarian51
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 10:11amSince the issue is the Iranian president exceeding his authority, I don’t suppose we can expect our president to make one of those “he needs to step down” statements like he was so happy to do when it came to Mubarek, who was generally friendly and useful to the United States. Notably, you’ll recall that Obama failed to make a statement of support for the Iranian demonstrators when he had the chance and when it might have made a difference.
Every time there’s a chance to make a wrong move, the Obama administration never passes it up. Every time there’s a chance to make the right move, they remain silent. It‘s just beyond me how there are still people who won’t recognize or acknowledge the incompetence of this gang that can’t shoot straight.
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 10:08amApparently he tweeted a photo of his junk to a young Iranian student.
Report Post »DaveOregon
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 10:06amTheir parliment or congress has no guts – they are only taking a stand like this because the great poobah Khomeni(sp?) is pissed off at him. so the reps have the “god squad” which controls the military on their side against Amadimmy. It’s the little brother acting all tough because he has his bigger brother behind him.
Report Post »Beckatude
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 9:54amSo the dictator doesn’t like being told what to do? Interesting. Now he knows how the “little people” feel.
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 9:47amNow thats the good stuff…
Report Post »Yes… off with his head!
MeMadMax
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 9:42amDog Eat Dog….
Report Post »last frontier
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 9:30amMaybe the left will pick him up to teach at berkeley.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 9:22amThe Iranian govt prides themselves on secrecy. They would never let this story out unless they wanted to. Right now Iran knows our need for oil and it make us vulnerable. If they get the toehoeld in Egypt they will want the whole region. With the help of the pretender in chief Iran will devalue the dollar more and unseat it as the currency the world uses to buy oil. I thik it is all a hoax. IMO
Report Post »dabbo
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 9:17amAhmadinejad is acting pretty much the same as Barry Obama and the Parliament voted 165-1 to refer him to the judiciary…..Sounds like Mahmoud desperately needs some Democrats over there.
Report Post »chuck_wagon
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 9:16amI think a stoning is in order.
Report Post »Hiswill
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:58amIrans little Hitler is finally being knocked down a few pegs. Maybe they will finally vote him out.
Report Post »freedom4ever
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:58amat least their parliament has the guts to stand up to their leader – too bad our congress can’t do the same with our so called leader!
Report Post »atechgeek
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:57amThis makes sense to me. If you read and understand the Bible … God says that Isreal makes it in the end. They can try and try to destroy Isreal but the fact of the matter is … it ain’t happening. Over throwing this clown is in line with securing Isreal’s safety. The barbarians will probably kill him.
Report Post »kerf
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:56amCorruption among the corrupt, “who would have ”thunk it”.
Report Post »alaskajohn
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:55amIf he isn,t executed he can join the obama administration.
Report Post »one yrs. food ration like Glenn says..
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:53amIran has a constitution ? LMAO, I sure would love to see that one.. I’ll look it up online…
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 9:16amI just read a bit of it courtesy of Wikipedia. What a huge laugh!
It sounds sort of reasonable in itself, but then one realises that Iran doesn’t pay the slightest attention to its own constitution. Worth a look if you want a giggle.
Report Post »MotoMofo
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:50amAhmadinejad should hire some Saul Alinsky since its working for our Prez.
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:48amMan proposes, GOD disposes…………Thank you, Abba!
Report Post »lynnissmart
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:50amThat’s funny
Report Post »nomercy63
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:47amConstitution????? They have one????? We need to get a copy and see what it says! We The People of Iran want to kill you? All a bunch of murdering thugs!
Report Post »saranda
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 9:17amDo you read anything outside of US based news? Or watch anything besides Fox?
Report Post »Mkralicek
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 9:47amYes and no.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:46amSure sounds like a Democrat to me. Doing what he wants, when he wants, and how he wants. Doesn’t care about anyone but himself.
Report Post »betterthantv
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:46amsmoke and mirrors……………
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 9:36amDepending how you look at it, he’s reducing the size of his government, or consolidating his power. BETTERTHANTV I agree with your post.
Report Post »lynnissmart
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:43amThat‘s what happens when you think your s don’t stink…..the little man got too big for his britches. ha, ha, ha, ha.
Report Post »EP46
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:43amAh Iran……will wonders never cease ? Perhaps there is a lesson here for others ? Did ‘wack-a-nut-job” wake up and think he has become obama and has total and complete rule ???? Will the Madhi come first ????
Report Post »randy
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:42amOff with his head!
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:44amUnbelieveable! His comuppence is finally coming up. Well, hopefully, anyway.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:48amRANDY, first thing that came to mind here too, and not a moment too soon!
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:50amSooo…Iran’s government has more ethics in dealing with their leader ignoring their constitution, than ours?
Report Post »Ebbertron
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:52amthis is an AP report….I’d watch the other hand.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:52amCan we do this with Obama? He has violated the war powers act (as well as making himself almost king with all the czars and executive orders) Anyone in Congress have any cahones? Noooooooooooooooooooooo…Not a one with a spine.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 9:04amHello, Congress? Are you taking notes?? Why can‘t our own legislators do the same thing to the rumblin’, bumblin’, stumblin’ idiot we have pretending to be president?
Report Post »lovenfl3
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 9:30amWhile it’s nice to see him getting a smackdown, the people delivering it are just as evil as he is.
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXPpBLlc1U
I.Gaspar
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 10:04amwith a dull, rusty knife….
Report Post »chazman
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 10:06amMuslim murderers begin feeding upon each other … yummy.
Report Post »HappyStretchedThin
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 10:13amCreestof,
Report Post »You may be right to compare constitutional fidelity, but don’t get all happy just yet. The constitution has only ever been a pretext in Iran. Khamenei is asserting himself as the real dictator, and it‘s his hardliners in parliament who are slapping Ahmedinejad’s hand. But make no mistake, a parliamentary vote with a veneer of constitutional reasoning isn’t the only tool available to Khamenei. This is not a triumph for Iranian rule of law or representative government here…
Wayner
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 10:14amLet’s start an inpeach Obama movement here.
Report Post »penismightier
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 11:10amBut I thought Glenn was saying this guy was going to be playing a key role in the near future? What happened to that prediction?
Report Post »PerniciousD
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 12:24pmIronic
Report Post »penismightier
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 12:37pmWe should do this with Obama. He’s out to destroy us. He wants us to be a thrid world country.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 12:54pmSounds like a Persian version of the muslim in the whitehouse!
Report Post »TNT1
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 12:59pm@ LIMP DICK That‘s all you have to dismiss what Beck see’s coming.Tell SPOOKY DUDE to KMA.Answer how Beck said the left wing radicals would work with Mussy Bro‘s to go at the Israeli’s.Answer how he is the only one talking bout what is really going on in the Middle East why the POTUS is treating one of our trusted allies like a nappy headed ste-child
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 3:34pmThe man control the military it’s nothing but a dog and pony show for the iranians.
Report Post »copper
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 4:53pmGee, his crimes sound a lot like those of Obama. And Obama has certainly ignored the rule of Law and our Constitution….Why isn‘t our Congress calling him to answer questions and explain his actions instead of accepting the lame excuses of his ’spokesmen’.
I guess Iran is more concerned with the Rule of Law than WE ARE!!
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