A Thoughtful Word
The words of Mr. Pezeshkian at the Ministry of Interior during the introduction of the new minister and the farewell of the previous minister were the second light he turned on.
The President said that provinces must have a roadmap so that their progress can be evaluated.
If we are to continue on the same path that has been followed until today and only change a few managers and individuals, we will not reach the destination of the vision document.
In this government, those who have risen without a valid reason will come down, and those who have unjustly been lowered will be elevated. The criterion is not being with us or not, but the belief and ability of individuals in implementing the vision document.
Establishing stability in procedures and laws is a sign of correct governance.
As Mr. Pezeshkian has said, continuing the previous path and policies will lead us nowhere.
Provinces must first and foremost have a roadmap.
Without such a map, no meaningful step leading to sustainable regional development can be taken.
This roadmap is not just a technical and soulless program from the center and top.
The first condition for its preparation is the participation of stakeholders and provincial forces in collaboration with the center.
Just as national development is meaningless without people’s participation, provincial development also lacks precise meaning without the participation of provincial forces.
Perhaps a lot of budgets are spent in the provinces, but often these budgets lack sufficient efficiency and productivity.
Some important provincial and regional projects are carried out according to the desires and interests or pressures of representatives or other local officials, which lack public value and benefit.
The second point is the necessity and emphasis on the measurability of the progress or lack of progress of the components of the roadmap.
It is unlikely that anyone remembers that in all these years even one case of economic projects or the performance of officials, governors, and district governors has been transparently measured and published.
The third and very important point is partisan and factional appointments without regard to individual abilities.
Of course, this does not mean condemning and rejecting all previous appointments, but how is it possible for a government to come to power and quickly change hundreds and thousands of posts, and all of them possess professional and managerial qualifications when we know that our political structure is non-partisan and individuals have not been trained within parties and lack a clear track record? In such a structure, the only way to select suitable individuals is to adhere to clear and transparent criteria for choosing managers with credible and qualified evaluators and judges.
Therefore, instead of bus-like managements, the track record of the Ministry of Interior’s central and provincial managers, which is more than other ministries, must be quickly evaluated and determined, especially the current managers, each of whom brings a track record with them.
A manager who has not had a roadmap for performing their duties or has used ineffective and partisan managers and has not maintained managerial independence during elections and has compromised professional integrity must be addressed. Mr. Pezeshkian’s statement is correct that the criterion is not being with us, but if someone has commitment to work, professional dedication, and ability, it means being with the healthy flow of the country.
The final point is also the stability of procedures and laws and regulations.
Just take a look at the automotive policy in the thirteenth government to see how for a simple matter that essentially needs no intervention, they were passing and issuing contradictory regulations weekly and even daily.
They have had the same approach in other ministries as well. One of our criteria for assessing the performance of this government and judging it are the very points that the President expressed at the Ministry of Interior.