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Iranian MPs holds first session | Iranian MPs holds first session |
(about 18 hours later) | |
Iran's new conservative-dominated parliament is convening for the first time after elections in April. | Iran's new conservative-dominated parliament is convening for the first time after elections in April. |
One of its first duties is to elect the house speaker, a powerful position which analysts say rivals the presidency in several areas. | |
Former nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani is tipped to take the role. He has wide support among the right-wing majority. | Former nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani is tipped to take the role. He has wide support among the right-wing majority. |
He resigned his nuclear portfolio in 2007 citing policy differences with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. | He resigned his nuclear portfolio in 2007 citing policy differences with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. |
Although Mr Larijani is frontrunner, a number of other MPs have expressed an interest in leading the majlis, as Iran's parliament is called. | Although Mr Larijani is frontrunner, a number of other MPs have expressed an interest in leading the majlis, as Iran's parliament is called. |
The right wing holds about 70% of the seats in the 290-member majlis. The remaining seats are split evenly between reformists and the independents. | The right wing holds about 70% of the seats in the 290-member majlis. The remaining seats are split evenly between reformists and the independents. |
Mr Ahmadinejad opened Tuesday's first session with an appeal for unity with his government. | Mr Ahmadinejad opened Tuesday's first session with an appeal for unity with his government. |
"We should be careful not to fall into quarrels and conflicts that evil hands, corrupt powers and some ignorant people are stirring up," he added. | "We should be careful not to fall into quarrels and conflicts that evil hands, corrupt powers and some ignorant people are stirring up," he added. |
Criticism | Criticism |
Analysts say Mr Larijani's leadership might not bring major changes to relations between the majlis and the presidency, but any disputes might be played out more publicly. | Analysts say Mr Larijani's leadership might not bring major changes to relations between the majlis and the presidency, but any disputes might be played out more publicly. |
Mr Ahmadinejad's policies have been blamed for high inflationOutgoing speaker Gholam Ali Hadad-Adel worked closely with Mr Ahmadinejad but differences occasionally surfaced. | Mr Ahmadinejad's policies have been blamed for high inflationOutgoing speaker Gholam Ali Hadad-Adel worked closely with Mr Ahmadinejad but differences occasionally surfaced. |
Mr Adel and Mr Larijani have shared positions over major political issues in the past few years, and are staunch advocates of the right-wing platform. | Mr Adel and Mr Larijani have shared positions over major political issues in the past few years, and are staunch advocates of the right-wing platform. |
Mr Ahmadinejad is expected to run for a second term in 2009, but Mr Larijani is unlikely to repeat his unsuccessful 2005 presidential bid if he is elected speaker, analysts say. | Mr Ahmadinejad is expected to run for a second term in 2009, but Mr Larijani is unlikely to repeat his unsuccessful 2005 presidential bid if he is elected speaker, analysts say. |
MPs on both sides have blamed Mr Ahmadinejad's economic policies for raising inflation to nearly 25%. | MPs on both sides have blamed Mr Ahmadinejad's economic policies for raising inflation to nearly 25%. |
He has allocated large sums of cash into the economy to fund local infrastructure projects, but he blames the previous administration for the inflation. | He has allocated large sums of cash into the economy to fund local infrastructure projects, but he blames the previous administration for the inflation. |
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