The Movement of SUVs in the Path of Parliament; Fereydoun Abbasi: Why Should We Make a Scene and Get Stuck on SUVs?

The fallout from the impeachment of Reza Fatemi Amin, the Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade, who was removed from his position due to a lack of parliamentary confidence, has led to a new conflict between Parliament and the government over the allocation of "100 SUVs to members of Parliament." In a recent development, Fereydoun Abbasi, a member of the Energy Commission of Parliament, stated: "Why should we make a scene and get stuck on SUVs? How much does an SUV cost?" These remarks have sparked reactions from some users on social media. The news of the allocation of SUVs to representatives, which was revealed ahead of the impeachment of the former Minister of Industry by the representative of Tabriz, Ahmad Alireza Beigi, was initially met with denial from several officials in the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the government. However, after the parliamentary vote of no confidence against Reza Fatemi Amin, government officials, with a clear change of stance, not only confirmed the allocation of SUVs to members of Parliament but also announced that the number exceeded "one hundred vehicles." According to the head of the Special Inspection Office of the President, from 2021 to mid-2022, more than one hundred vehicles were allocated to some representatives at factory prices and without a lottery. The announcement of the allocation of more than one hundred vehicles comes while Ahmad Alireza Beigi, the whistleblower, had previously stated that the number of SUVs allocated to representatives was between 70 to 75 units. Hassan Darvishian, the head of the Special Inspection Office of the President, exonerated Reza Fatemi Amin by saying: "The former Minister of Industry had no knowledge of the occurrence or details of this matter." This confirmation from the government official regarding the allocation of vehicles led to criticism from some representatives, including Fereydoun Abbasi, a member of Parliament and the Energy Commission. The former head of the Atomic Energy Organization said: "Why should we make a scene and get stuck on SUVs? How much does an SUV cost?" This representative's remarks faced negative reactions from many social media users. One user criticized Fereydoun Abbasi's comments, referring to poverty and some people's resorting to selling their kidneys. Several members of Parliament also called for the publication of the names of those who received SUVs. Jalil Rahimi Jahangir, a member of Parliament, also emphasized the need for transparency in this matter. Although some, like Mohammad Mohajeri, a principlist journalist, believe that the current dispute between Parliament and the government is a form of revenge by government supporters against the Qalibaf faction. The issue of the gift of 70 SUVs to representatives has also drawn in President Raisi.