Nominee Falls One Vote Short of Being Confirmed as Iran’s Labor Minister


Nominee Falls One Vote Short of Being Confirmed as Iran’s Labor Minister

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian president’s pick for the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare fell one vote short of gaining the approval of the country's lawmakers.

In an open session of the Parliament on Tuesday morning, the lawmakers disqualified Mohammad Mahdi Zahedivafa from taking the helm at the ministry with 125 votes against, 136 in favor and 9 abstentions from a total of 272 votes.

A ministerial nominee needs 50 percent plus one vote to win the vote of confidence from the Parliament.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi attended the parliamentary session in person to defend his pick.

The former minister, Hojjatollah Abdolmaleki, resigned from the administration in June after coming under mounting criticism for his handling of the labor market and a meager rise in retirement pensions.

Zahedivafa, 59, has a PhD in Economy from the University of Ottawa.

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