Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei spoke out against the persistent disputes between the administration and Parliament, emphasizing that MPs should refrain from constant protests against the executive branch simply to prove Parliament’s independence.
Iranian media report that on Wednesday, Ayatollah Khamenei met with the newly elected members of Parliament, and his speech focused on the recent disputes between Parliament and the Ahmadinejad administration.
“Parliament should not pick on every issue against the administration in the name of independence. If the Parliament has an opposing opinion, it can refrain from unconstructive confrontations and instead concentrate on passing legislation on that issue.”
He stressed that “unity and understanding” are crucial in these times.
The head of the Islamic Republic went on to add that the system includes various agencies for mediation in any situation, and all disputes should be resolved through the law or the Guardian Council.
The Guardian Council is the Islamic Republic’s constitutional watch dog and it is also in charge of resolving disputes around parliamentary law.
“If any tendency, however small, takes shape in the Parliament that is against the principles of the Revolution, this would indicate a lack of political health in Parliament,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
In recent years, Parliament frequently has accused the administration of violating its legislation, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has refused to bow down to Parliament’s demands.
The Islamic Republic’s leader appears to be trying to mediate a truce between the two branches of government to ensure that the final year of Ahmadinejad’s mandate comes to an end without a major blowout.
