Written by Shamsuddin Shariati
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian selects his cupboard at parliament in Tehran in August 2024. Source: Hamihan Online
The new president’s whole cupboard was accredited by Iran’s parliament two weeks in the past. What will we learn about this new cupboard, and the way did the reformist President Pezechikian handle to win approval from the conservative-dominated parliament? Does the brand new authorities promise change and enchancment in Iran’s home disaster and worldwide relations?
For the primary time in Iran’s historical past, a newly elected president has transparently convened an advisory committee of distinguished consultants, lecturers, and politicians. This council established a number of skilled committees tasked with nominating probably the most certified candidates for ministerial positions on the idea of advantage. The head of the council overseeing these procedures was Javad Zarif, a well-regarded reformist and former Iranian overseas minister.
After President Pezeshkian appointed his cupboard, many reformists and journalists expressed disappointment, believing that the cupboard was removed from what they’d anticipated and voted for. Zarif, who performed a key function in Pezeshkian’s marketing campaign, stated 10 of the 19 ministers have been among the many candidates really useful by the council. Zarif subsequently resigned from his put up as Deputy Presidential Strategy Secretary, saying he had “failed to satisfy his promise to incorporate girls, youth and ethnic minorities in his cupboard.” He additionally apologized for failing to ship on his marketing campaign guarantees throughout the “corridors of home politics.”
Over the previous 4 a long time, Iranian reformists have usually pursued idealistic modifications, radical narratives, and important political reforms, typically encountering sturdy resistance from conservatives. This resistance has led to widespread disillusionment among the many folks, regardless of repeated makes an attempt to elect reformists to authorities and parliament, with little significant change among the many folks. I’m there. Beyond the preliminary efforts of President Mohamed Khatami (1997-2005), latest makes an attempt to carry reformists to energy embody the elections of President Rouhani’s authorities (2013-21) and the 2016 parliamentary elections. characterised by. Both confronted appreciable obstacles from conservatives and hardliners that finally prevented their success. This rising disillusionment is mirrored in voter turnout within the 2021 and 2024 presidential elections, which have been 49%, 40%, and 50%, respectively, the bottom in additional than 40 years.
This time, nonetheless, reformers took a extra pragmatic method, choosing gradual modifications slightly than radical reforms and narratives. They have tried to compromise and construct consensus with reasonable forces and the ruling majority. President Pezeshkian seems to have reached an settlement with the conservatives, selecting half of his cupboard members, particularly these associated to the financial system, overseas affairs, and well being, from among the many council’s candidates, and the opposite half to appease the conservatives. Looks prefer it was chosen.
President Pezeshkian has rightly prioritized addressing Iran’s financial disaster and overseas affairs, deciding on extremely educated technocrats and confirmed economists Abdulnasser Hemmati and Ahmad Meydari to the Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Social Welfare, respectively. did. Additionally, he appointed Ali Taebnia, a distinguished economist and former Minister of Economy, as his chief advisor. It is noteworthy that in Tayevnia’s tenure as Economy Minister, Iran’s inflation fee dropped dramatically from 35% to lower than 10% from 2013 to 2017. The new authorities’s financial crew is subsequently wanting ahead to tackling the present financial deficit and excessive inflation. , and the deterioration of the state of affairs of the center class and the poor.
Additionally, Abbas Araghchi was elected Minister of Foreign Affairs. Araghchi, who served as political undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2017 to 2021 beneath the Javad Zarif administration, labored with the P5+1 nations (the 5 everlasting members of the UN Security Council: China, France, Russia, and the United States). He labored arduous to conclude the nuclear settlement. Along with President Pezeshkian, he’s advocating for Iran to be faraway from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist. FATF is a worldwide group that tackles cash laundering, terrorist financing, and weapons proliferation financing, and its blacklist identifies nations with important strategic deficiencies in these areas. Removing Iran’s identify from the FATF blacklist might pave the way in which for sanctions to be lifted and monetary and industrial exchanges to be restored between Iran and the remainder of the world.
Additionally, Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi was appointed Minister of Health. Mr. Zafarghandi is a former chairman of the Medical Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran NGO, which was elected by a membership of roughly 300,000 medical staff. His appointment was supported by earlier Health Ministers, each Reform and Conservative, demonstrating that he’s certified for the function. Additionally, Ms. Zafarghandi is a champion of ladies’s rights, often criticizing the arrests of protesters and the dismissal of scholars and professors in earlier protests, notably the Women, Life, Freedom Movement, and the Freedom of Iran motion. has constantly supported increasing the United States and fairer elections.
These are among the excellent examples of latest ministers. In this manner, comparatively competent ministers are appointed to high-priority ministries. It is necessary to know that reforming or bettering political programs doesn’t occur abruptly or by elementary modifications. Such modifications typically face resistance from the elites who profit from the present system. Instead, reforms needs to be gradual, with every step ahead requiring consensus constructing amongst stakeholders and stakeholders.
At this level, some could also be dissatisfied, considering that the reformers have deserted their beliefs or are merely looking for extra energy with out making significant modifications, however it is very important notice {that a} balanced cupboard composition It could possibly be argued that Tao’s pragmatic method nonetheless has the potential to yield outcomes.
It is encouraging that after a long time of ups and downs, Iran’s reformists have realized to be pragmatic and play by the foundations of energy and politics. They compromise, forge agreements, construct alliances, construct majorities towards hardliners, negotiate, and cut price (the significance of pragmatism) whereas sustaining the belief of those that vote for them. ideas). They realized tips on how to deal with crucial points and compromise with rivals on different points to achieve help. Time will inform whether or not this method will enable Iran to start tackling the issue step-by-step.
