Conservative Member of Parliament Ahmad Tavakoli has warned that “a totalitarian movement with deviant ideas” is at work in the Iranian government, trying to influence parliament to act “without concern for national interests.”
Tavakoli told Hamshahri daily that if this group manages to take control of the parliament, it will also be in place for the next presidential elections. He added, however, that conservatives are making every effort to unite against the movement.
Tavakoli seemed to be implicitly referring to deputy president Esfandiar Rahim Mashai and his supporters, whose actions have drawn fire from conservative lawmakers in the past.
Tavakoli added that the president’s “despotic and single-minded approach” has strained the relationship between the government and parliament. According to the conservative MP, the parliament has become too lenient with the government.
“Due to the treason of the losers of the 2009 elections, we are now dealing with a semi-security state in which the more generous need to give more,” Tavakoli said. “When pressures and sanctions increase, unity once again becomes more vital.”
He said Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has used internal and foreign affairs “astutely” in order to advance his agenda.
With regard to cutting government subsidies, Tavakoli claims producers were obliged to keep prices down one way or another: either accepting certain political incentives or a jail term. The conservative MP contends this kind of government action has never been seen in Iran before or since the Revolution.
“There is no honour in carrying out economic plans though the arm of the ministry of intelligence,” Ahmad Tavakoli said.
He added he is doubtful that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will make any significant change to his approach and, therefore, the tension between him and the parliament is bound to escalate.
