The Iranian parliament on Tuesday reluctantly approved by a "relative majority" two lawyers to the Guardian Council, clearing the way for reformist President Mohammad Khatami to take office for a second four-year term, reported the official Iranian news agency (IRNA).
Most of the 249 lawmakers boycotted the second round of voting early Tuesday, leaving only 87 of them to elect the two conservatives, Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei and Mohsen Esmaeili, to the oversight council.
According to the amendment made by the Expediency Council in its emergency meeting Monday, a second vote does not need a majority of votes, and so it is impossible for the reformist-minded lawmakers to reject the conservative nominees.
In the first vote, deputies had rejected by an absolute majority four candidates to the council submitted by the chief of the judiciary, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi.
Esmaili received 62 votes and Abbasali Kadkhodayi 67 out of a total of 243 votes cast, 163 of which were blank.
In the first round, 166 deputies out of the total number of those present in the chamber cast blank votes thereby rejecting by an "absolute majority" the other four nominees to the post presented by Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi.
The Guardians Council is composed of 12 members. Six are chosen by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as supreme leader, and six by parliament from a list prepared by the judiciary.
Selections for half the council's positions are renewed every three years.
The candidates were re-introduced early Tuesday to the reform-dominated parliament after the chamber twice rejected them over the weekend, leading to the postponement of President Khatami's investiture before parliament.
The Expediency Council, which has the final say in Iranian political disputes, broke the deadlock Monday by altering the voting process.
On Saturday, Khamenei postponed the swearing-in ceremony, arguing that the constitution required all 12 of the Guardians Council's members to be present at the ceremony – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
