Ahmadinejad summoned to parliamentary committee

TEHRAN, Jan.7 (MNA) – Iran`s Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee asked Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to attend the committee meeting on Tuesday to answer MPs’ questions. A motion to question the president was submitted to the Presiding Board of Majlis on December 20, and the board referred it to the specialized committees. The motion, signed by 73 lawmakers, includes 10 irregularities on which the president needs to be questioned, such as his refusal to implement the legislation regarding the Tehran subway, the president’s view of the ‘status’ of Majlis, and lack of attention to cultural issues particularly hijab. Ahmadinejad, however, is expected Sunday in Caracas at the start of a five-day tour which will take him to Nicaragua Tuesday and then on to Cuba and Ecuador. According to the Constitution, the president must appear in the parliament to answer MPs’ questions when at least one fourth of the lawmakers sign a motion summoning him. On June 26, a motion, signed by 100 MPs, was submitted to the Majlis presiding board to question the president. However, it lost quorum after a number of lawmakers withdrew their signatures. However, it was officially revived and put on the parliamentary agenda after some MPs reconsidered their withdrawal, therefore making the motion eligible for consideration.