This time, the mystic’s silence prevails.
This time, the mystic’s silence prevails on the eve of the formation of the fourteenth government. There were numerous opinions and predictions for the selection of this position, which naturally was so serious for the physicians and his advisory council that no option entered the proposed list.
Ali Tayebnia, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Mohammad Reza Aref, Ali Abdolalizadeh, and Ali Larijani were the most prominent options. The names of two of them, Tayebnia and Zarif, were on everyone’s lips from the first days after the physicians’ victory in the presidential elections, and Abdolalizadeh and Larijani also joined this queue later on.
Zarif, who heads the advisory council formed by the physicians, announced in the early days after the elections that he does not want any responsibility in the government and is not willing to accept the position of first deputy due to its rank and status.
Ali Tayebnia, the Minister of Economy of Rouhani’s government, an economist, and a distinguished professor of the country, was one of the most likely options for this position. His name remained alongside all the names that entered and exited the list of first deputies during this time.
After that, Mohammad Reza Aref, the first deputy of the second reformist government, was another option, with a 50-50 chance of his presence in this position being announced.
Ali Abdolalizadeh, the head of the Medical Election Headquarters and the Minister of Housing in Khatami’s government, was another possible option for this position, although he announced one day after the victory of the medical community that he would not hold any position in the fourteenth government. However, until the official announcement, he was considered as one of the potential candidates for the first deputy position.
Hossein Marashi, the Secretary-General of the Workers’ Party, was another option that was mentioned for taking up this position.
His name was announced as the proposed candidate of the Workers’ Party, but he himself emphasized that he would not become the first deputy.
Ali Larijani was another potential option for this position, and his name was more talked about after a meeting he had with the medical community.
According to reports from the meeting between Larijani and the medical community, it was rumored that Ali Larijani was being considered for two important positions, first as the first deputy and the other as the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, although this news was dismissed by unofficial channels.
A historical change
The position of the first deputy of the president was foreseen in 1989 during the constitutional review and was decided to fill the vacuum caused by the elimination of the prime ministerial position.
Until now, discussions about authorities, especially among statesmen, have focused on the authority of the prime minister, who received a vote of confidence from the parliament, being more dominant in the executive realm compared to the president, who received a vote of confidence from the people. This discrepancy has fueled debates as the broad and lengthy processes of presidential elections and the increased authority of the prime minister are seen to be conflicting with each other, leading to a diminished role for the president.
One of the reasons for abolishing the position of Prime Minister in Iran was the disputes, especially during the tenure of the last Prime Minister, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, with the then President of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei. This led to the removal of this position from the organizational structure in the constitutional review. However, there was still a need for a position with sufficient authority to manage the executive branch and act as the President’s right-hand. Therefore, the First Vice President, with almost similar but adjusted powers compared to the Prime Minister, entered the government structure. The approach shifted, with the Prime Minister as the head of the government and the executive face, while the President became the national figure. As a result of this change, the President became more executive-oriented, acting as the head of the executive branch, while the First Vice President took on a more managerial role within the presidential institution, with extensive powers and responsibilities, maintaining an important and sensitive position.
The articles examining the position of the first deputy as the guarantor of the president and his anticipated responsibilities in the legal system of Iran emphasize the importance of this position by referring to Article 131, which states that in case of the death, resignation, or dismissal of one of the two presidents, the first deputy will temporarily assume the responsibilities and powers of the presidency until a new president is elected.
Opposition members believe that removing the first deputy from office will weaken the government and disrupt the smooth functioning of its affairs.
In another section of this article, it has been emphasized that two situations should be considered for the first deputy in the government cabinet. One is when the President is present, the first deputy does not have the right to vote independently in the Council of Ministers and does not have priority over ministers. The other situation is that in the absence of the President, the first deputy has the right to vote and is responsible for coordinating other deputies.
Furthermore, in terms of duties and responsibilities, the first deputy, with the approval of the President, manages the Council of Ministers and coordinates the responsibilities of other deputy positions. Only the first deputy, with the explicit approval of the President, manages the Council of Ministers and is responsible for coordinating the other deputy positions when the President is absent.
This article concludes that the first and foremost duty of a leader in a country is to prioritize and implement policies that promote development, progress, and prosperity, both in terms of economy and social welfare. The article emphasizes that a leader’s success should be measured by the well-being and progress of the people, rather than personal achievements or power struggles. It also highlights the importance of ethical leadership and governance in shaping a nation’s future, as well as the responsibilities and challenges that come with governing a diverse and complex society.
Mohammad Mozaheri, a law professor at Tabriz University, and his colleagues in the Administrative Law Journal issue 15 of summer 2018, highlighted the rare incident that occurred after the helicopter crash carrying the 13th government’s Prime Minister, Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, and his team. This incident shed light on the role of his first deputy more than ever before.
He participated in the meetings of the three branches of power as the vice president’s guarantor, formed the meetings of the cabinet, issued multiple orders, and was responsible for holding early presidential elections.
All first deputies
The role of the first deputy in reviewing the constitution was very important and sensitive to the point that Ahmadinejad was willing to invite Mohammad Reza Aref to continue in this position in his government, which Aref opposed.
Ahmadinejad’s inability to choose his first deputy caused him significant trouble, and he was forced to appoint three first deputies in his two presidential terms.
Parviz Davoodi, his first deputy, left the government without saying goodbye and with anger. It was rumored at the time that Davoodi had a hand in changing the unemployment rate and was involved in many economic appointments and dismissals by the government.
The late Hassan Habibi was the first vice president in Iran, appointed by the late Hashemi Rafsanjani in August 1989, and served in this position for 12 years during Khatami’s government.
Mohammad Reza Aref was the second vice president in Iran who took over this position from 2001 to 2005 after Habibi stepped down.
Parviz Davoodi became the third First Vice President in Iran during the first four years of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s presidency, and after his dismissal, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei became the First Vice President.
Mashaei was in the position of First Vice President for less than a week in Tir 1388 (July-August 2009), but due to the opposition of the leadership and their explicit letter, he was replaced as First Vice President, and Ahmadinejad appointed him as the Chief of Staff. Mohammad Reza Rahimi was the third First Vice President under Ahmadinejad, serving in this position from Shahrivar 1388 (August-September 2009) to Mordad 1392 (July-August 2013).
Eshaq Jahangiri was the only First Vice President during both terms of President Hassan Rouhani, and Mohammad Mokhber was chosen as the First Vice President of the late President Rafsanjani’s government. Now, Mohammad Reza Aref is once again in this important position.
Aref’s return marks a silent presence.
Aref, whose name was announced as the First Vice President of the fourteenth government, has previously served as the Minister of Post and Telegraph, First Vice President of the Institute for Management and Planning Studies, Head of the University of Tehran, Member of Parliament, continuous member of the Academy of Sciences, and member of the Expediency Discernment Council.
Aref’s presence in the political arena of Iran had many ups and downs, with his best performance being attributed to his time as the president of the University of Tehran and the first deputy of the presidency. His worst performance is considered to be during his leadership of the Hope faction and representation of the people of Tehran.
His silence during his representation was met with numerous criticisms, and at a time when the criticisms against him were mounting, his son’s comments about the good gene further increased public anger towards Aref.
After his appointment to this position, reactions to Aref’s choice were mixed. Some considered Aref the best choice for the position, while others criticized his advanced age and weak political performance in recent years.
One of the supports for this choice was from Ali Sharifizarchi, a dismissed professor from Sharif University, who emphasized Aref’s resignation from the Sharif University recruitment committee due to his dismissal, highlighting that this rarely happens with other officials.
Now, with this choice, it remains to be seen whether the 73-year-old Aref is the right choice for this position and whether he can adopt the same approach as his youth and break his silence.
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