By Ardalan Sayami

Source:

March 13, 2010

Yesterday ended with a Majlis no vote to the administration’s request to spend 40 billion Toman (40 million USD) of funds derived from the subsidy reform plan, but analysts noted last night that this was just perhaps the beginning of the story.  It all began yesterday at the supreme leader’s office.  Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani had been summoned to the supreme leaders office, because the president had requested the supreme leader’s help in confronting the Majlis the day before.  As such, in violation of Majlis rules, lawmakers accepted the president’s request to be present during the Majlis proceedings.  Ahmadinejad spoke to lawmakers and said, “I don’t believe in inflation, and inflation will decrease next year.”  But the Majlis did not accept his explanations and handed him a negative vote denying his request.

I Don’t Accept Inflation

Previously, Mohammad Reza Tabesh, head of the minority reformist faction, had said in an interview with ILNA that Majlis speaker Larijani had met with the Islamic Republic supreme leader on Tuesday to discuss the subsidy reform plan.  The meeting took place after Ahmadinejad wrote a letter about the bill to ayatollah Khamenei.

Although the contents of Ahmadinejad’s letter to the leader have not been revealed, ayatollah Khamenei on Tuesday referred to the administration’s rationale as “strong” in a meeting he had with Larijani and asked lawmakers to “Provide an opportunity for the president to present his rationale and remarks about the subsidy reform plan.”

The president’s presence on the Majlis floor prompted reporters to conclude that the administration had once again won the day by dragging the supreme leader into the conflict.

Negative Vote and Majlis’s Delayed Announcement

Majlis speaker announced the number of lawmakers present at 8:20 pm following the evening prayers: 234 lawmakers.  Prominent Principalist figures who are aware of the supreme leader’s opinions refrained from making public comments.  The atmosphere was pro-administration.  The president moved between the aisles to secure his votes.  At stake was 20 billion Toman (20 million USD) more for the administration.  The voting began and, amazingly, the vote count came out negative: 111 in favor and 105 against.  After a delay speaker Larijani announced the results.  Happy among the lawmakers was Kavakebian, who engaged in a memorable debate with Shariatmadari. Speaking in Tehran’s Baharestan square, where more than half a century ago nationalist leader Mohammad Mossadegh had delivered his fiery speeches, he loudly and proudly proclaimed that “The Majlis was really a Majlis.”