Parliament, government resolved...
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It appears that the law, like some hardline parliamentarians’ insistence on dismissing Mohammad Javad Zarif from the government based on law, may lay the groundwork for new disputes between the government and parliament. According to the law, officials with dual nationality or family members with dual nationality cannot hold key positions. Opposition lawmakers in the parliament claim that Vice President Zarif falls under this law and should step down.
Just days ago, MPs rejected the government’s bill to amend this law. Comments from Qalibaf, who advised Zarif to resign as vice president, did not sit well with government supporters and reformists. Now, the hijab law is set to become another contentious issue between the government and parliament.
However, Pezeshkian, who has himself served as a lawmaker for several terms, has not reacted strongly to these issues, opting not to fuel the controversy. It seems he remains committed to national unity and cooperation, hoping to resolve these differences through dialogue and negotiations with high-ranking officials, away from media hype. As Sakineh-Sadat Pad, a legal expert and head of the Presidential Office’s Social Freedoms and Rights Department, has suggested, the implementation or non-implementation of the hijab law could be discussed and reviewed in a meeting of the heads of the three branches of power.
In any case, yesterday’s joint session between the parliament and government, particularly the stances of the president and parliament speaker, indicates that the two bodies are committed to continuing cooperation and synergy to address the country’s problems, and that some differences will not hinder this path. Qalibaf and Pezeshkian, more than anyone else, know that there is no way to stabilize the country’s situation except by strengthening cooperation between various bodies. Regional and international circumstances have also underscored the need for internal unity.
Thus, the joint session of the government and parliament sent a clear message about the executive and legislative branches’ determination to work together to synergize the country’s national power to overcome challenges. In the shadow of this unity and cooperation, it is possible to overcome some differences or find solutions. As Presidential Deputy for Communications and Information Mehdi Tabatabaei has written: “There are logical paths to amend flawed laws. Good governance will prevent the implementation of laws that go against the country’s overall interests and create tension and division.”