IRAN: PARLIAMENTARY CONFRONTATION BETWEEN NEW PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT BANI-SADR AVERTED BY POSTPONEMENT OF DEBATE ON CABINET APPOINTMENTS.

Record ID: 1050112

  • Title: IRAN: PARLIAMENTARY CONFRONTATION BETWEEN NEW PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT BANI-SADR AVERTED BY POSTPONEMENT OF DEBATE ON CABINET APPOINTMENTS.
  • Date: 4th September 1980
  • Summary: 1. GV INTERIOR Majlis ZOOM IN TO SV Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Rajai speaking in Farsi. 0.22 2. SV Former Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan listening. 0.29 3. GV PAN Members of Majlis listening. 0.45 4. SV Prime Minister Rajai listening as delegate speaks. (2 SHOTS) 1.15 5. SV Speaker of Majlis speaking as Prime Minister Rajai listens. (2 SH
  • Embargoed: 18th September 1980 13:00
  • Keywords:
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  • Location: TEHERAN, IRAN
  • Country: Iran
  • Reuters ID: LVAC890RPYTRSJ22CGNEYRU7Y8C1
  • Story Text:In Iran a parliamentary confrontation between supporters of President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr, and the newly appointed Prime Minister, Mohammed Ali Rajai, was narrowly averted on Tuesday (2 September). The Majlis (or Parliament) avoided the row by postponing a debate on Mr. Rajai's controversial cabinet appointments.

    SYNOPSIS: The Prime Minister made a brief appearance before the Majlis after holding lengthy talks with President bani-Sadr. He
    explained that the President wanted more time to study the 20 nominations for Iran's proposed new cabinet announced by Mr. Rajai at the weekend.

    Former Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan was among those listening intently.

    Mr. Rajai said that it was now up to president Bani-Sadr to make the next move in breaking the deadlock between the two leaders, and he called on the President to resume their talks on the cabinet appointments.

    In the Majlis the strong rivalry between President Bani-Sadr's followers and the clergy-dominated Islamic republican Party was well in evidence. Although the party, which supports Mr. Rajai, holds the balance of parliamentary power, the President's followers had threatened to walk out and make the Majlis inquorate if Mr. Rajai tried to force a vote of confidence.

    The compromise puts off the crisis but does not resolve it. Each side has accused the other of violating Iran's constitution: President Bani-Sadr by refusing to approve the new Prime Minister's cabinet, and Mr. Rajai by announcing his team without seeking presidential approval. The President has complained that several of the proposed ministers are too young and lacking in administrative experience to hold high office. He is known to have particular reservations about the Foreign Minister-designate, Hossein Moussavi, editor of the fundamentalist newspaper Islamic Republic.

    Informed sources predict that President Bani-Sadr will approve the cabinet after some changes, but is likely to dissociate himself from cabinet decisions.
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