Rouhani to Defend 4th Nominee for Sports Ministry Sunday

“As per regulations… Mr. (President Hassan) Rouhani will come to parliament tomorrow to defend his proposed nominee for the sports and youth ministry,” Member of Parliament’s Presiding Boar Hassan Sohaninia told the Tasnim News Agency.

Sohaninia also said that parliament would likely give its vote of confidence to Mahmoud Goudarzi, as he has the scientific, research, and management qualifications for the post.

Goudarizi is currently dean of the Faculty of Physical Training of Tehran University. President Rouhani’s previously proposed nominees for the post included Masoud Soltanifar, Reza Salehi Amiri, and Seyed Nasrollah Sajjadi.

Iran’s parliament last Sunday convened an open session to vote on President Rouhani’s nominee for the ministry of sports and youth -- the third person to be introduced for the post – but the lawmakers made Rouhani search for a fourth person for the vacant position.

The parliament did not give its vote of confidence to President Hassan Rouhani's choice for the ministry of sports and youth, Seyed Nasrollah Sajjadi.

The lawmakers voted 124 in favor, 107 against with 22 abstentions, from a total of 253 present in Sunday's open session of parliament.

Those voting against Sajjadi cited his old age and lack of comprehensive plans for the youth as reasons for voting so.

Immediately after the vote, Rouhani proposed Mahmoud Goudarzi through an official letter to Majlis as the fourth nominee for the post.

On October 27, parliament refused to give a vote of confidence to Rouhani’s previous choice for the minister of sports and youth, Reza Salehi Amiri.

Rouhani’s first nominee to head the ministry, Masoud Soltanifar, also failed to get the vote of confidence on August 14.

Of the total of 18 nominees in the president’s proposed list in August, 15 were earlier approved by legislators. However, three others failed to garner enough votes.