Tehran, Sept 25: Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad on Monday made the first change to his cabinet after
more than a year in government by sacking the social security
minister, the student news agency ISNA reported.
Parviz Kazemi, who had not been Ahmadinejad`s first
choice for the post, has been dismissed "to give the position
to someone who can have a great impact on welfare and social
institutions", said Ehsan Jahandideh of the presidential
press office.
The move came amid expectations of wider changes to
the make-up of the government, which was criticised at the
time it was appointed for being under-qualified and for
containing too many new faces.
According to ISNA, the President is now "evaluating
the scores" of his ministers` performances.
Vice President in charge of executive affairs Ali
Saedloo said that "the evaluations are still going on".
Ahmadinejad`s cabinet, introduced to parliament in
mid-August 2005, came up against repeated obstacles after the
MPs rejected several of the nominations, including for oil
minister who only won the confidence vote after two candidates
were vetoed and one withdrew.
The welfare and social security ministry will now be
run by an interim head, Ali Yousefpour.
Ahmadinejad has named MP Abdolreza Mesri, current head
of the social security committee in Parliament, as the new
minister. Parliament will hold a vote of confidence on Mesri
on October 3, state television said.
Bureau Report
