Parliament Votes for Stricter Regulations on Appointments to Sensitive Positions

According to ISNA news agency, the Islamic Consultative Assembly mandated executive bodies on Tuesday morning, June 4, to consult not only the Ministry of Intelligence but also the Judiciary and the IRGC Intelligence Organization when appointing individuals to sensitive positions. The representatives of the ninth parliament, which is in its final days, approved an urgent bill on the appointment of individuals to sensitive positions, which had been returned by the Guardian Council. Under this bill, all executive bodies (the government) are required to consult the three authorities: the Judiciary, the Ministry of Intelligence, and the IRGC Intelligence Organization when appointing individuals to sensitive positions. Additionally, individuals with dual citizenship, those who do not believe in or practically adhere to the absolute rule of the jurist and the Constitution, those who played a significant role in strengthening the foundations of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, suspects and perpetrators of espionage, convicted drug traffickers, and those notorious for corruption and immorality are among those who cannot be appointed to sensitive positions. Majid Ansari, the parliamentary deputy of Hassan Rouhani, criticized the addition of the Judiciary and the IRGC Intelligence Organization to the consulting authorities on Tuesday morning in parliament. He urged representatives to return the bill to the committee, arguing that it could create fundamental issues in the management of Iran. Ansari stated that this bill, which had been returned to the Social Committee, was brought back to the public session without holding a meeting or inviting government representatives. He noted that the parliament did not invite the government to participate in committee sessions, and no consultation was conducted with the government on this matter. The approved bill specifically targets government appointments, including deputies and advisors to the President and their deputies, as well as advisors to ministers, heads, and CEOs in ministries, organizations, state companies, and non-governmental institutions. Ansari commented on the statements made by parliament representatives that suggested the government intends to appoint spies and traffickers to sensitive positions. He also reported the execution of 'an infiltrator' in the Islamic Republic's institutions last year. Ansari emphasized that the Ministry of Intelligence has been conducting inquiries since the days following the revolution, and this hiring system has been in place in Iran for 37 years, with representatives having come to parliament under this system. He questioned why there should be a return to the first year of the revolution and a rewriting of the law. According to the new parliamentary resolution, the government must consult the Ministry of Intelligence, the IRGC Intelligence Organization, and the Judiciary for its hiring processes. Furthermore, if the individual in question has previously been a minister or representative, they must wait for inquiries again for a new appointment. The appointment bill for sensitive positions was born in the Social Committee of the ninth parliament in July 2014 and was approved by representatives in December of the previous year. However, it was criticized by the Guardian Council in March and returned to parliament. After returning from the Guardian Council, the bill was presented in the public session on May 17 and was sent back for further review to the Social Committee, ultimately being approved on June 4 with 151 votes in favor, 73 against, and 11 abstentions. Ali Motahari, an opponent of the bill, stated in the Tuesday morning session that the objections raised by the Guardian Council remain valid and unaddressed. Kamal al-Din Pourmohammadi, another opposing representative, called for only the Ministry of Intelligence to remain as the sole inquiry authority, arguing that the presence of other inquiry authorities could open the door to personal biases. This bill must be sent back to the Guardian Council, and Ansari's request is for this bill to be reviewed in the tenth parliament.