IN A REBUFF TO KHAMENEH'I, MAJLES ELECTED Mr. BEHZAD NABAVI AS VICE-SPEAKER

TEHRAN 12 Jun. (IPS)        An outspoken lawmaker who supports contacts with the United States was elected Wednesday as new deputy-Speaker of the Majles, or the Iranian parliament, in a clear rebuff to the autocratic leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneh'i, who had ruled out any dialogue with Washington.

Mr. Behzad Nabavi, one of the leaders of the Organisation of Islamic Revolution Mojahedins (OIRM), a “pillar” of the pro-Khatami Second Khordad Coalition (SKC) was elected as first deputy-Speaker with 152 votes and Dr Mohammad Reza Khatami, the General Secretary of the Islamic Iran Participation Party (IIPP), was voted as second vice-Speaker, the official news agency IRNA reported.

Hojjatoleslam Mehdi Karroobi, the outgoing Speaker and a member of the pro-reform Association of Militant Clergymen dubbed  “chameleon”, was re-elected with a massive 221 “yes” for another year during a voting for the presiding board of the 292 seat, reformists-dominated Majles.

The election of the leftist Nabavi was immediately criticised by the minority fraction.

Mr. Qolamali Haddad Adel, the leader of the minority fraction in the unicameral House criticised the move by objecting to the fact that the board is monopolised by the reformist.

“To day’s elections are not a victory for the reforms, but for the Participation Front only”, he observed, referring to the organisation that forms the largest group in the Majles and is considered as the President’s political arm.

But Mr. Mohsen Armin, a reformist deputy who is also an influent member of the MIRO, described his colleague’s nomination to the presiding board as “significative”, having in mind that Mr. Nabavi had been subject to fierce attacks by the conservative press.

However, most Iranian political analysts saw in the election of Mr. Nabavi an effort, if not a rebellion, by reformist MMs (Members of the Majles) to assert their rights and prerogatives against increasing interferences of Mr. Khameneh'i and the Judiciary in the life of the Legislative.

Last year, Mr. Khameneh'i had personally ordered lawmakers to withdrew a bill aimed at reforming a very unpopular press law that had been passed by the previous Majles and more recently, he had ordered the Judiciary to impose on the press a total black out on any article in favour of talks with the United States.

Mr. Nabavi had resigned as first vice-Speaker last year after he was accused by the leader-controlled Judiciary of mismanagement, alleged corruption, abuse of power and kick backs over a contract won by the British-registered but Iranian-owned Petropars Oil Company in the giant South Pars gas field in the Persian Gulf which is developed by a consortium of oil companies led by the French oil firm TotalElfFina and includes Russian and Malaysian oil companies. 

But he became a target of the conservatives and their press after he dared to stand up to the leader by openly declaring last week that he was ready to meet American colleagues and study with them ways and means to tear down the “walls of misunderstanding”, citing a quote from President Mohammad Khatami when he was in a better disposition towards the Americans.

In a speech at the Majles three days ago, Mr. Nabavi had accused “some people”, whom he did not identified, for preparing the grounds for a military take over on the pretext that Washington was considering a military attack on Iran.

“There are some people within the regime that, in order to establish a military government, make increasing anti-American provocations. In case these rogue or un-rogue elements plan to push Iran to the brink of war, I shall disclose what should not be made public”, Mr. Nabavi had warned.

“To day’s Majles vote (in favour of Mr. Nabavi) is more a defensive than offensive action that is also a direct challenge to the leader and is a prelude to the new fights ahead between the Majles with the Council of Guardians over two main issues of changes in the election laws and the Council’s special rights (for approving or not candidates to all elections) Mr. Ahmad Salamatian, a Paris-based political analyst told the Persian service of the BBC. ENDS NEW MAJLES BOARD 12602