Iranian economy minister could keep his post

Economy and Finance Minister Shamseddin Hosseini managed to avoid the impeachment threat after the members of the Parliament voted on Tuesday, Mehr News Agency reported.

As many as 141 MPs voted against his impeachment, 93 MPs voted for and 10 MPs abstained.

The Iranian parliament has launched today a motion to impeach the Economy Minister.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended the open parliamentary session to speak in favor of Hosseini. Addressing the parliament Ahmadinejad called the Parliament for the unity with the government to oppose the country's enemies.

In mid-October, twenty-two members of the Iranian Parliament have signed a draft document to impeach Minister of Economy and Finance and submitted the issue to the parliament's presidium.

MPs accused Hosseini of not providing a control over banks and other financial institutions, abuse of power and improper performance of relevant functions.

Iran's parliament started debates on impeachment of Hosseini on Sept. 30 after obtaining new documents related a $2.8 billion fraud scandal, which is described as Iran's biggest case of embezzlement ever.

According to the documents, Iranian Bank Saderat, Bank Melli, Tat Bank, the Central Bank of Iran and the Economy Ministry were involved in the financial scandal.

Following the scandal, a number of Iran's top financial officials, including the heads of Bank Saderat, Melli and Tourism resigned.


/Trend/