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Khatami appoints brother as head of presidential office
Iran President Mohammad Khatami has appointed his younger brother as head of the presidential office, state-run Tehran Television reported on Sunday.
Iran President Mohammad Khatami has appointed his younger brother as head of the presidential office, state-run Tehran Television reported on Sunday.
Ali Khatami, the president's younger brother, succeeds Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a close Khatami ally who served as chief of his office for the last four years.
Abtahi was appointed as Khatami's deputy for legal and parliamentary affairs. Another younger brother of Khatami, Mohammad Reza, currently holds the post of parliamentary vice speaker.
Last week, Khatami appointed Mohammad Reza Aref, a US-educated former minister, as first vice president to succeed Hasan Habibi, who held the post for 12 years until his recent resignation.
Last month, the reformist-dominated parliament approved a all 20 of Khatami's proposed cabinet ministers.
Under Iran's Constitution, Khatami's ministers are required to win a vote of confidence from the Parliament, but the president needs no parliamentary approval for appointing or dismissing his deputies. Khatami was re-elected by a 77 per cent landslide to a second four-year term on June 8. During his first term, many of his attempts at reform were thwarted by hard-liners who control the judiciary, the police, state media and the guardian council, which has veto-power over all legislation.
Bureau Report
Ali Khatami, the president's younger brother, succeeds Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a close Khatami ally who served as chief of his office for the last four years.
Abtahi was appointed as Khatami's deputy for legal and parliamentary affairs. Another younger brother of Khatami, Mohammad Reza, currently holds the post of parliamentary vice speaker.
Last week, Khatami appointed Mohammad Reza Aref, a US-educated former minister, as first vice president to succeed Hasan Habibi, who held the post for 12 years until his recent resignation.
Last month, the reformist-dominated parliament approved a all 20 of Khatami's proposed cabinet ministers.
Under Iran's Constitution, Khatami's ministers are required to win a vote of confidence from the Parliament, but the president needs no parliamentary approval for appointing or dismissing his deputies. Khatami was re-elected by a 77 per cent landslide to a second four-year term on June 8. During his first term, many of his attempts at reform were thwarted by hard-liners who control the judiciary, the police, state media and the guardian council, which has veto-power over all legislation.
Bureau Report