Iranian President Hassan Rouhani takes part in a news conference near the United Nations General Assembly in the Manhattan borough of New York, U.S., September 22, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Iranian lawmakers approved three new ministers on Tuesday, signaling support for changes in the cabinet of pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani seven months before a presidential election.

State media reported that Reza Salehi Amiri, Saeed Soltanifar and Fakhredin Ahmadi Danesh-Ashtiani won votes of confidence to take over the ministries of Islamic guidance and culture, sport and youth affairs, and education. Their predecessors resigned after Rouhani criticized them for inefficiency and succumbing to pressures from outside the government.

Rouhani allies won big gains in parliamentary elections in February, short of an outright majority but comfortable enough to pass his legislative plans.

Rouhani is expected to stand for re-election next year but may face a challenge from conservative rivals who believe Iran has conceded too much in a deal with world powers to limit its nuclear program, while failing to benefit as promised from a lifting of international sanctions.</s>Iran's Parliament has given votes of confidence to three candidates proposed by President Hassan Rouhani to lead the ministries of sports and youth affairs; culture and Islamic guidance; and education.

After extensive debates during two Parliament sessions on Tuesday, Rouhani’s picks for the three ministries obtained the green light from the Iranian lawmakers.

At the end of the evening session, Reza Salehi Amiri, the proposed nominee for the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, received the vote of confidence with 180 Iranian lawmakers in favor, 89 against and six abstentions.

This as 193 lawmakers also gave their approval to Massoud Soltanifar, as the president’s pick for the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs. Some 72 lawmakers opposed him and nine abstained.

Fakhroddin Ahmadi Danesh Ashtiani also won a yes from 157 legislators, while 111 were against him and six abstained, to become the new minister of education.

Soltanifar is the current vice president and the head of the Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran; Salehi Amiri is the current head of the National Library and Archives Organization of Iran; and Danesh Ashtiani is a university professor.

In a letter to Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on October 23, the president had introduced the candidates for the three vacant ministerial portfolios for votes of confidence.

The president’s move came after the resignation of Ali Jannati, Mahmoud Goudarzi, and Ali Asghar Fani as the ministers of culture and Islamic guidance, sports and youth affairs, and education, respectively, last week.</s>State media reported that Reza Salehi Amiri, Saeed Soltanifar and Fakhredin Ahmadi Danesh-Ashtiani won votes of confidence to take over the ministries of Islamic guidance and culture, sport and youth affairs, and education. Their predecessors resigned after Rouhani criticized them for inefficiency and succumbing to pressures from outside the government.

Rouhani allies won big gains in parliamentary elections in February, short of an outright majority but comfortable enough to pass his legislative plans.

Rouhani is expected to stand for re-election next year but may face a challenge from conservative rivals who believe Iran has conceded too much in a deal with world powers to limit its nuclear program, while failing to benefit as promised from a lifting of international sanctions.</s>Some Minority members have lashed out at the Ministers for Youths and Sports and Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye and Nana Oye Lithur respectively for allegedly abandoning their sponsored bills which were under consideration in Parliament yesterday to campaign.

Parliament, which reconvened on October 11 for the third meeting of the fourth session of the current Parliament, will be rising today for the general elections but the two ministers, who were expected in the House to superintend over the consideration of the National Youth Scheme Bill, 2016 and the Children’s Amendment Bill, 2016, did not turn up.

The Minority, led by New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Atwima Mponua, Isaac Asiamah, vehemently protested against the absence of the two ministers in the House while such important bills under their respective ministries were being considered in Parliament.

The minority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu had alleged that the two ministers were on a campaign trail while bills that had been sponsored by them were being considered on the floor.

The MP for Atwima Mponua did not understand why ministers of state could undermine the work of parliament with just a day left for the House to rise, stressing that most ministers under President Mahama had not attached much importance to the work of Parliament.

He said President Mahama’s ministers had continuously showed disrespect to Parliament which is a complete affront to the institution.

He therefore called on Parliament take action against the ministers.

Hon Isaac Asiamah later told DAILY GUIDE that he was not surprised that most of these ministers had underperformed, stressing that the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho had also expressed similar sentiments and consistently complained about the neglect of government business in Parliament by the ministers.

The First Deputy Speaker, Ebo Barton Odro, who was presiding, said it was not good for ministers to ignore duties expected of them in Parliament, stressing that ministers must indeed take the business of Parliament seriously.
Iranian parliament approves three President Hassan Rouhani's new designated ministers, including Reza Salehi Amiri, Fakhruddin Danesh-Ashtiani and Masoud Soltanifar as culture, education and sports ministers respectively.