The meeting was formed to assess the performance of the Majlis both in terms of ratifying laws and supervising the enforcement of laws and also monitoring other government bodies since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani told the meeting that unity and pursuing the objectives of the Islamic Revolution are the country’s top priorities.
Although it is unlikely that people turn their back to the revolution, they might get disappointed as a result of losing confidence in authorities, he noted.
“Today, we need an immediate unity and we should all follow the leader of the revolution… we have managed to pass the past 30 years with the leadership of Imam (Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic) and without the help of any foreign power.”
“As far as the revolution is reliant on Islam and people’s votes, it cannot be undermined,” he noted. “People will support us for the sake of Islam and as far as we are honest and we serve them.”
Rafsanjani also paid tribute to the late cleric lawmaker Seyyed Hassan Modarres who was a key supporter of constitutional reform during the Qajar dynasty.
Modarres was a notable supporter of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution. He was among the founding members of the reformist party of the time, which was formed during the fourth national Majlis of Iran. He has been called brave and incorruptible and perhaps the most fervent supporter of constitutional government.
He was elected to Majlis from the Tehran constituency in 1914 and served at the Majlis for four terms. Modarres fought against the presence of British forces in Iran, vigorously opposing the proposed 1919 agreement that would have transformed Iran into a British colony.
Larijanin calls former and current MPs ‘national assets’
Current Majlis speaker Ali Larijani called former and current lawmakers “national assets” who have played significant roles in the country by approving laws in turbulent days after the Islamic Revolution.
Majlis plans to facilitate contact with former lawmakers, especially former speakers, and seek their views in approving legislations by establishing an office in the Majlis, Larijani noted.
Larijani cited decision about the U.S. hostages, vote against Abolhassan Bani-Sadr’s presidency, approving laws related to the Sacred Defense (1980-1988 Iraqi imposed war against Iran), ratifying key legislations for regulating the country’s affairs, and adoption of five-year development plans as among the important records of successive parliaments.
Majlis must epitomize national unity: Karroubi
Mahdi Karroubi, also a former speaker, stated that the Majlis must epitomize national unity and should face no limitation in enforcing laws.
“The Majlis must not be weakened under any circumstances,” he said, adding, “Everyone should be vigilant that Majlis is not weakened in order to be able to defend rights of the nation when necessary.”
He reiterated that the Majlis can harness the administrative power and provide useful advices.
Karroubi described Iran’s Parliament as ‘incomparable’ and noted that Iranian Constitution states that the Majlis must be ‘powerful’.
“According to the Constitution, the dissolution of the Majlis is meaningless,” he noted.
He said when Iran’s Majlis was established for the first time only “luminaries” entered.
“If we want to have a powerful Majlis” some highly qualified persons should be elected to parliament, he insisted.
Parliament suffers from party lines
Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel, the previous parliament speaker, insisted that the Iranian parliament is suffering from strong party blocks despite over 100 years of lawmaking.
He argued that that non-party parliamentary system lacks a ‘collective identity’.
The lawmaker said a true and efficient party is ‘nation building’ institution.
The main reason behind the conflict between Majlis and the administration is the lack of powerful parties, Haddad-Adel told the seminar.
Elsewhere in his talks, he said parliament is one of the main pillars of governing.
He said Iran’s Majlis is rooted in the Constitutional Monarchy and the Islamic Revolution, adding, “Majlis is the emblem of national unity, and insulting the Majlis means insulting the nation.”
AA/BA/PA
END
MNA
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