Source: Alalam.ir, 27-5-2008
TEHRAN--President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday inaugurated the new legislative period of Iran's Majlis or the parliament.
Addressing the opening session of the 8th Majlis, president Ahmadinejad said that the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) and government should stand side by side as both belong to the nation.
Ahmadinejad said that none of the representatives of Iran's Majlis should overlook people's rights and aspirations.
"The MPs have been elected by people to serve the nation", he said.
He also called on "those who used to be political rivals" to be "brothers again."
"We should work together to settle the economic problems but any deficient decisions and bills would just push us back again," the president said.
He said that the people's vote is the "backbone" of the three branches of government in Iran.
Ahmadinejad said progress and development in Iran and restructure of the international relations "are two faces of the same coin."
"The government and Majlis should become an example of unity and harmony for the world," Ahmadinejad said in his speech, adding "We should be careful not to fall into quarrels and conflicts that evil hands, corrupt powers and some ignorant people are stirring up".
He said the country should adopt "Islamic and Iranian theories" to grapple with its economic problems.
Ahmadinejad said standard economic theories promoted in the West had been the cause of "endless tyranny and famine."
"We all admit that the Iranian nation does not deserve the current economic situation. It suffers from structural problems such as inflation, unfair subsidies and an inefficient budget and planning system," he said.
"We should move toward Islamic, Iranian theories which are based on justice and the removal of deprivation."
Principalists won almost 70 per cent of the 290 seats in March (first round) and April (second round) elections while the remaining seats went to reformists and independent deputies.
In an internal meeting on Sunday, the two factions had their first test of power which clearly ended in favor of the ex-Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani's faction.
Official voting for the speaker's post will be carried out later Tuesday.