Iran Parliament to decide fate of Cabinet Thursday

With the debate on the new Ahmadinejad Cabinet spilled over to another day, Iranian lawmakers will vote on the nominees on Thursday, after the president offers his last words about his picks.

Parliamentary debate on the line-up began on Saturday and is expected to end by Thursday noon. The president will then address the lawmakers in defense of the 21 nominees who await a vote of confidence.

The voting is set to take place after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speech.

So far, 19 nominees have outlined their four-year plans in front of the lawmakers, with defense minister-designate Ahmad Vahidi seeming to be enjoying a tacit approval by the Majlis, the Iranian Parliament.

The nominees for the energy and oil portfolios are yet to present their plans to lawmakers.

Iran’s outgoing commerce minister Masoud Mirkazemi who has been nominated to head the oil ministry is expected to come under careful scrutiny as there are talks that he lacks expertise in the vital sector.

Mohammad Ali-Abadi, who has previously served as Tehran’s deputy mayor, vice-president and head of the Physical Education Organization, will also present his plans as the minister of energy against Majlis officials.