Representatives reviewed the impeachment motion of the finance minister in two sessions on Sunday, with several expressing their opinions both for and against the move to oust Hemmati.
The voting process, which began in the afternoon session, resulted in 182 votes in favor, 89 votes against, 1 abstention, and 1 invalid vote, out of a total of 273 parliamentarians present in the session.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, while addressing the parliament in defense of Hemmati, acknowledged that the country was facing economic problems but stated that no single individual was to blame. “Can one person alone decide and implement economic measures, and then we blame him for all the errors and say that if he leaves, the problems will be solved?” he asked.
He emphasized that the blame game would not help solve the problems and get the country out of the economic war. “The only way to overcome problems is through unity and empathy,” he said, adding that he had no motivation for the presidency other than serving the people.
Earlier, Hemmati delivered a lengthy speech in parliament, defending the measures taken by the government of President Pezeshkian to improve the country’s economic conditions.
He highlighted the government’s achievements in the past five months. “In 2018, the country’s economic conditions were much more problematic than they are now, but we stood firm and withstood the maximum pressure,” he said.
Hemmati, however, welcomed the impeachment motion, saying it is the right of the people’s representatives. “Impeachment is a manifestation of political progress and will lead to greater empathy, but they are wrong about my lack of responsiveness to problems,” he said.
IRNA