Iran official says female MP Zohreh Elahian is a welfare minister candidate
The presidential Office chief of staff, Esfandiyar Rahim-Masha’i stated on Monday [7 September] that MP Ms Zohreh Elahian is one of the nominees for the post of welfare and social security minister.
Elahian sits on the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee.
Talking to reporters, Rahim-Masha’i said that there are different nominees for the ministerial post and he doesn’t know who will be the president’s [Mahmud Ahmadinezhad's] choice.
He added that Elahian is one of the options but the president has not decided, yet.
Asked on the gender of the nominee, Rahim-Masha’i said he has no information about the issue.
Rahim-Masha’i noted that the president will name the candidate for the post before the Majlis holds the confirmation vote for the proposed education and energy ministers.
Member of the Majlis presiding board Hamid Reza Haji-Baba’i said on Sunday that the confirmation vote for the vacant ministerial posts will take place on 15 September.
On Thursday, the Majlis confirmed 18 ministerial nominees but voted down the candidates for the post of education, energy, and welfare ministers.
In a letter to the Majlis presiding board on Sunday afternoon, the president proposed female MP Fatemeh Alia as education minister and Ali Zabihi as energy minister.
Posted: September 7th, 2009 under Breaking News.