TEHRAN, SEPT 25 – Iran’s parliament today blocked the appointment of a politician from the Sunni minority as vice president, state media reported.
In August, President Masoud Pezeshkian announced the appointment of Abdolkarim Hosseinzadeh as Vice President for rural development and marginalized areas, citing his ‘valuable experience’.
But today, lawmakers voted against his resignation from parliament to take up the post of vice president, the official news agency said IRNA.
“Members of Parliament voted 107 in favor, 129 against, and five abstained from the 247 representatives present,” he added.
Following the vote, lawmaker Mehrdad Lahouti said the vote was aimed at keeping Hosseinzadeh in the legislature because of his ‘ability and experience’.
“Legislators believe his presence in parliament will be more effective and useful,” Lahouti said in a statement quoted by the parliamentary news agency. ICANA.
He said the decision to prevent Hosseinzadeh from resigning was ‘completely unrelated’ to him being a Sunni. – AFP
