Iranian MPs are moving to give moderate President Mohammed Khatami more political power after the head of state earlier this week admitted that his hands were tied, press reports said Thursday.
"A number of MPs yesterday (Wednesday) reported on a bill which is being signed and expected to be presented to parliament aimed at increasing the president's powers," the government-run Iran paper said.
"According to this bill, parliament will give the president the necessary authority to end constitutional violations," the paper said, adding that the bill was welcomed by the "majority of MPs."
No further details were given, but the report comes just four days after Khatami said he was "incapable" of enforcing the constitution and took subtle but clear aim at conservatives who have stymied his reforms.
"I must admit that after three years and a half in the president I am aware that the head of state does not have adequate prerogatives to do his job," Khatami said in a speech in Tehran.
"The president is not capable of stopping the violation of the constitution or ensuring its implementation," he said at a conference on the constitution.
"Failure to implement the constitution weakens democracy and threatens to stir up tension," Khatami warned.
And he added: "Among the important structural things we must do is to remove ambiguities so that the president can do his job with total authority and with the support of the legal power."
Reformist Khatami, who swept into office in 1997 with a pledge to institute the rule of law, has found himself hamstrung since the beginning of his four-year term by a conservative-dominated parliament and courts.
His powers are also dwarfed by those of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has praised Khatami personally but criticized his government.
Reformists charge conservatives with trying to undermine Khatami, who is expected to run for re-election to a second term in May.
But asked if he would run for a second term on Wednesday, Khatami said: "It is too soon for that."
Some aides have suggested he may not run for re-election because of the wide-ranging powers of the conservatives, who in addition to the courts control state media, the police and army, and key economic sectors – TEHRAN (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
