Iranian Parliament vows cooperation with government

"The Parliament (Majlis) will definitely pay heed to the views of the Leader (of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei) regarding cooperation between the legislative body and the government," Larijani said on Sunday.

Larijani added that Majlis would try to have more friendly cooperation with the government in implementing the laws including those related to the subsidy reform plan.

The speaker's remarks came after the Iranian Parliament rejected President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's plan to save about 40 billion dollars by cutting energy subsidies.

Based on the 347-billion-dollar budget, the government plans to start a major plan to scrape costly energy and food subsidies thereby reducing government expenditure.

However, earlier in March, lawmakers wrapped up 14 long sessions of debate and passed the much anticipated budget bill, permitting the government to eliminate USD 20 billion worth of subsidies — half of the amount requested by President Ahmadinejad.

The president believes a referendum is the best solution to ending the dispute over the proposed economic reform plan.

The government is now obliged to execute the approved bill.


/Press TV/