Agriculture Minister Steps Down

EghtesadOnline: Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati, who was to be impeached on Tuesday, has quit his post, so the parliamentary hearing on his performance has been cancelled, a lawmaker announced on Monday.

News ID: ۷۴۹۰۳۳

26 November 2019

“According to a letter by Vice President for Parliamentary Affairs Hosseinali Amiri to Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, Hojjati’s resignation has been accepted [by President Hassan Rouhani],” Asadollah Abbasi, a member of the Majlis Presiding Board, told IRNA.

“Due to this reason, the agriculture minister’s impeachment session has been called off,” Financial Tribune quoted him as saying.

Lawmakers planned to hold a session on Tuesday to impeach Hojjati for his "poor" track record and failure to address major problems facing the sector.

The motion calling for the impeachment of the agriculture minister carried 38 signatures.

Hojjati had survived a vote of no-confidence in parliament in 2018.

The motion cited a number of reasons to impeach the minister, including issues related to dismissals and appointments at the ministry, exports and imports, and failure to protect natural resources.