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Ahmadinejad dismisses Larijaniâ€™s stance on mergers

12 May 2011 08:26 (UTC +04:00)

On Monday, media outlets reported that the cabinet has approved the merger of eight ministries into four ministries.

Larijani said on Tuesday that it is illegal to merge the ministries without the approval of the parliament.

â€œThe respected Majlis speaker thinks that he is a law unto himself, which is not a correct assumption. And it must be noted that one should not pollute the (political) climate of the country and make it tense for no reason,â€ Ahmadinejad stated during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

â€œArticle 53 of the Fifth (Development) Plan has authorized the administration to merge a number of ministries at its discretion and to brief the Majlis on the duties of the new ministry, in the event a new one is established,â€ he explained.

Iranâ€™s Fifth Five-Year Development Plan (2010-2015) is part of the 20-Year Outlook Plan (2005-2025), which is the countryâ€™s main blueprint for long-term sustainable growth.

â€œThe law stipulates that the government should reduce the number of ministries (from 21) to 17,â€ Ahmadinejad added.

The administration is upholding the law that the Majlis has ratified, Ahmadinejad said, adding, â€œThe lawmaker has himself written the law, and he had better read it once again.â€

â€œCertain persons think that they are the employers and the government is their worker. But it would be better if the respected Majlis fulfills its own duties and allows the administration to fulfill its duties according to the law,â€ he said.

He added, â€œUnfortunately, certain people are making efforts to accuse the administration of flouting the law, but no one has yet been able to prove that.â€

Ahmadinejad also expressed hope that the parliament speaker and other legislators would comply with the law.