TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad fired at least two members of his cabinet, and may have to face a vote of confidence in parliament for the final few days of his term, two semi-official Iranian news agencies reported Sunday.
But the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted a government official as saying that only one cabinet member was fired, so no such vote will be needed.
There are 21 ministries in Iran. According to the constitution, if more than half the cabinet members are changed in a single term of presidency, a vote of confidence in Iran’s parliament is required. During his presidency, Ahmadinejad has previously replaced nine cabinet members. Two more would make it 11 — more than half the total.
Ahmadinejad is scheduled to be sworn in for his second term during the first week of August.