MAJLES APPROVES FIRST OF TWO GOVERNMENT BILLS

TEHRAN 6 Nov. (IPS)

The Majles (Iranian Parliament) fired the first salvos of a new showdown between reformists and conservastives on Wednesday after it approved the “geneneralities” of the first of the two bills presented by the government of Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Khatami, aimed at curtailing the powers of the leader-appointed Council of Guardians (CG), including its controversial “Special Vetting Right” that give it the authority to reject any candidate without providing explanations.

Debate on the bill, which was pesented to the reformists-dominated Majles last September, started yesterday but was posteponed until today following lengthy deliberations in which opponents and proponents voiced their views.
The government has cited the bill as aiming to increase people's participation in elections and reduce wanton disqualification of hopefuls.

The other bill redifines the prerogatives of the president, including his constitutional right to warn any of the highest ranking officials of the three powers concerning the respect of the Constitution and mete out punishment in case the warning is not heeded.

The bills are seen as an attempt by the President to save the reform movement from disintegration by putting pressure on the conservatives to be more receptive to people’s aspiration for more freedom.

They are views as attempting to curtail the powers of both the CG and the Judiciary, two very unpopular institutions of the Islamic Republic that serves as the police and political arms for Mr. Khameneh’i, the leader of the regime, who, in the past two years, has multiplied his personal interventions in the nation’s daily affairs, ordering the closure of more than 80 publications, jailing of a dozen of high-profile dissident journalists, lawyers, intellectuals, clerics and even lawmakers.
But as, according to the Constitution of the present theocracy, all laws passed by the Majles must receive approbation from the 12-members Council of Guardians, it is expected that the Councilmen would reject them.

If this happens, then the Assembly for Discerning the Interests of the State (ANIS), or the Expediency Council, that is chaired by former president Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani would be called for final
arbitration.

Until now, any time the Expediency Council, which is also an advisory board for the leader, has had to arbitrate between the Majles and the CG, it has sided with the latter.

In a joint press conference with the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar in Madrid on 29 October, Khatami told Iran Press Service that the bills were “needed in order to better respond to the aspirations of the people".
But he dashed when pressed to explain what he would do if the bills were rejected by the CG, saying he hoped that “everything would be solved in a logical and reasonable manner”.

Conservatives say the bills were contrary to the Constitution, since they sought excessive authority for the president and interfered in other state powers.

"This bill is supported by anti-revolutionary elements, and if approved, all the infidels, former Marxists and non-Iranians with acquired Iranian nationality can enter parliament", Golam-Hossein Elham, head of the CG”s research centre, was quoted by the Iranian news agency IRNA as saying.

Reformists are determined to see the bill limiting the Guardians Council's powers succeed and have threatened to seek a referendum if it is blocked.

Mr. Abbas Abdi, a former revolutionary student who led the attack on American embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 but turned reformer and a staunch supporter for the normalisation of relations between Tehran and Washington, has urged Mr. Khatami and his Second Khordad Colaition to walk out of the leadership if the CG blocks the bills.
Mr. Abdi, who is the director of the “Ayandeh” Research Centre, was arrested two days ago, charged with receiving money from the American polling firm Gallup to file informations on Iranian situation for American political and intelligence establishments.

His firm was one of the three polling institutions hired by the Majles’ Foreign Affairs and Security Committee to find out Iranian’s attitude towards the United States.

The survey, published by the official news agency, was devastating for the leader, as it showed that more than 74 per cent of Iranians support relations with the United States in the one hand and only 1.2 per cent consider Ayatollah Khameneh’I a popular, wise and able leader.

Reformist deputies argued that parliament would no longer represent the will of the people if voters were robbed of the chance to select candidates of their choice.

"The legitimacy of the Islamic regime comes from the votes of its electorate, and that legitimacy must not be weakened," said deputy Majid Ansari.

The libration of Hojjatoleslam Abdollah Noori from jail has boostd the morale of many reformists who see on him a new, charismatic, popular leader with enough guts to stand to the conservatives.

Jailed three years ago for five years on charges of insulting the leader, inciting people’s wrath againt the regime and propaganda against the Islamic Republic, Mr. Noori, a twice former Interior Minister, vice-President and owner of Khordad newspaper, was freed on Tuesday on orders from Mr. Khameneh’i and suggestions from Hojjatoleslam Mehdi Karroobi, the Majles Speaker.

''I would say that he is the only one in this country who is like Khomeini. He has the charisma, he's brave like him, he understands society'', the British news agency Reuters quoted political analyst Sa’id Leylaz as having said.
But Mr. Mehdi Khalaji, an analyst with the Persian service of the Prague-based Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty says it is unlikely that Mr. Noori would come to the political arena in the near future. ENDS BILLS 61102