Iranian lawmakers sack science minister, Najafi appointed as caretaker

The Iranian parliament on Wednesday took back its last year's vote of trust in Science Minister Reza Faraji Dana, and President Hassan Rouhani appointed former Education Minister Mohammad Ali Najafi as caretaker of the ministry.
In an impeached vote today, 145 members of the legislature voted to unseat Faraji Dana, while 110 MPs renewed their trust in the minister. 15 abstained.
The impeachment motion, signed by 51 members of the 290-seat parliament, was lodged earlier this month and was the first against a minister in Rouhani’s cabinet.
The parliamentarians were unsatisfied with the performance of Faraji Dana as science minister in the universities.
Under the Iranian Constitution, the lawmakers can impeach an individual minister when they deem it necessary. An impeachment motion can be submitted when it has at least ten signatures.
The minister must appear in the parliament within ten days after the submission of the impeachment motion to answer the questions raised by lawmakers, explain his action and seek a vote of confidence.
In October 2013, the legislature granted a vote of confidence to Faraji Dana after the lawmakers refused to qualify President Rouhani’s initial nominee for the position.
Najafi was appointed as the head of Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization on 17 August. However, he resigned from his post on 30 January 2014 due to health problems, making him the first change in Rouhani's cabinet. He was an advisor to President Rouhani before being appointed to the post of the caretaker minister today.