Iranian President-elect Hassan Rowhani pledged to cooperate closely with parliament and to limit infighting between the legislative and executive branches, saying Iran’s problems could not otherwise be solved.
Rowhani, a relative moderate who won a landslide victory over more conservative rivals in a June 14 poll, needs the backing of lawmakers to pass a budget and to deliver on promises of an increase in the minimum wage and banking sector reforms.
“The future government will not think of confrontation with parliament, nor will it think of, God forbid, fooling parliamentwith inaccurate statistics,” Rowhani told deputies in a speech late on Sunday, according to the Mehr news agency.
“Certainly solving the country's problems will not be possible without cooperation between parliament and the executive branch,” said Rowhani, who faces a tough challenge rebuilding an economy battered by international sanctions.
The second term of Iran’s outgoing president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was marked by extensive feuding with parliament, which reached a peak in February when Ahmadinejad accused the family of speaker Ali Larijani of corruption.
Lawmakers have also harshly criticized Ahmadinejad for his administration’s implementation of subsidy reforms, which theysay has stoked inflation.
Rowhani, a mid-ranking Shi'ite Muslim cleric who has a close relationship with theocratic Supreme Leader Ayatollah AliKhamenei, takes office next month.
Parliament must also approve Rowhani’s nominations for cabinet positions and these have been the subject of widespread speculation in the Iranian media in recent weeks.

Rowhani pledges end to bickering within Iran parliament

Iranian President-elect Hassan Rouhani vows to cooperate closely with parliament and to limit infighting between the legislative and executive branches. (File photo: AFP)
Reuters, Dubai
Monday 15 July 2013
Last Update: Monday, 15 July 2013 KSA 12:21 - GMT 09:21
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