Economy minister’s impeachment bid sparks mixed reactions
The impeachment of Economy Minister Nasser Hemmati is set to be discussed in Iran’s Parliament today, despite some lawmakers who initially signed the impeachment motion withdrawing their support. Others argue that impeaching the economy minister is not appropriate under current circumstances.
The impeachment motion, which was submitted with 91 signatures on February 19, is scheduled for review during today’s parliamentary session. However, the process has sparked debate among lawmakers and government officials.
President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the issue on Saturday, stating that the impeachment is part of ongoing political disputes that should be avoided.
He emphasized that resolving the country’s economic challenges requires time and expert input. “The current situation cannot be fixed easily within six months or a year,” Pezeshkian said.
“Experts need to gather and find solutions. Solving even a simple problem takes time, and if we make the right decisions and implement them correctly, it will still require time. Six months is not enough to evaluate a minister, especially the economy minister.”
The president also defended Hemmati, noting that many decisions on economic matters were made in coordination with other government leaders.
He criticized the tendency to blame the economy minister for the country’s economic woes, which he attributed to severe international sanctions.
“Instead of informing the public that these pressures and problems are due to sanctions and external actions, we blame the economy minister,” he said.
Mohammad-Taqi Naqdali, a lawmaker supporting the impeachment, argued that the motion is not politically motivated and has been signed by 114 lawmakers from various political backgrounds and regions.
He criticized Hemmati’s handling of the economy, stating, “The economy minister came to Parliament claiming he could manage the economic situation, and now he must answer for the current state of affairs.”
The lawmaker also referenced a recent closed-door parliamentary session, where no solutions to the economic crisis were reached.
He stressed that impeachment is Parliament’s legal right and that lawmakers have a duty to hold ministers accountable. “Even if the minister regains a vote of confidence, lawmakers have fulfilled their responsibility. The economic and livelihood issues of the people cannot be ignored,” the MP said.
Meanwhile, Mehrdad Baouj-Lahouti, the first deputy chairman of Parliament’s Plan and Budget Committee, expressed opposition to the impeachment, stating that the economic and budget committees view the move as counterproductive.
The lawmaker argued that Hemmati, who has significant experience, should be given more time to address the country’s economic challenges. “Removing Hemati would lead to a three-month period with an acting minister, which would worsen the economic environment,” he said.
Akbar Ranjbarzadeh, a lawmaker from Asadabad, also opposed the impeachment, stating that six months is too short a time to evaluate the performance of the government or its ministers.
He called for a one-year evaluation period to assess their capabilities and performance. “Changing the economy minister is not the solution to the current problems,” Ranjbarzadeh said. “The issues in the currency and gold markets stem from various factors.”
Economic expert Bahman Arman echoed these sentiments, warning that replacing the economy minister at this time would deal an irreparable blow to the government.
“If Parliament’s goal is to help the government, it should not hinder a minister who is working to solve economic problems,” Arman said.
On February 19, during an unannounced visit to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, Pezeshkian reiterated that all monetary, banking, and currency policies were decided in coordination with government economic teams, parliamentary economic committees, and experts.
“It is unfair to blame one person [the economy minister] for all the problems,” Pezeshkian said. “We must work together and move forward with strength, believing that we can overcome these challenges.”