Tehran: Iran's Parliament on Tuesday decided to summon President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for questioning over a long list of accusations, including that he mismanaged the nation's economy.
The summons was the first of its kind for an Iranian president since 1979. It follows a petition by a group of lawmakers for a review of policy decisions by Ahmadinejad, who has come under increasing attacks in recent months from the same hard-liners who brought him to power.
It is also part of a power struggle on the Iranian political scene ahead of March 2 parliamentary elections and the 2013 presidential vote.
Mohammad Reza Bahnoar, the deputy speaker of Parliament, said lawmakers have demanded that Ahmadinejad answer a slew of questions on the economy, including purportedly bypassing a special budget for the Tehran subway and public transportation.
He is also to be queried about foreign and domestic policy decisions.
"There is a requirement for the president to answer questions in an open session of Parliament," said Bahnoar, whose Parliament speech was broadcast live on Iranian state radio.
A letter containing the summons is to be sent to Ahmadinejad in next two days, according to Parliament statement. Under Iranian law, he has up to appear in Parliament after one month. It's unclear what would happen if Ahmadinejad fails to appear before Parliament.
Ahmadinejad will also be asked why he "hesitated for 11 days" to act on a demand Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to reinstate intelligence minister, Heidar Moslehi, who was sacked by Ahmadinejad in 2011, and to elaborate on his snap dismissal of former foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, during a trip to Africa.
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