TEHRAN – Iranian lawmakers on Saturday started debating the credentials of 19 cabinet members proposed by President Ebrahim Raisi, with the formal sessions for vote of confidence planned for next week.
The parliament is set for a busy week, planning 270 meetings at specialized commissions in four days.
The spokesman for the parliament’s presiding board told Tasnim news agency that the vetting process will go on until Tuesday, noting that the proposed ministers will be attending the meetings of 14 expert and two special commissions to outline their plans.
The formal sessions for the vote of confidence will begin on August 21 and continue for four days, MP Nezameddin Mousavi said.
President Raisi is free to take part in the parliamentary meetings to defend his choices, he said, adding in his absence, the first vice-president can attend the sessions.
Raisi submitted the list of his proposed ministers to the parliament on Wednesday after being sworn in as the new Iranian president. He had two weeks to submit his new cabinet to the parliament, but drew up the shortlist in only six days.
If any of the proposed ministers fails to win a vote of confidence, Raisi will have up to three months to name a replacement.