President Rouhani for referendum on significant topics

President Hassan Rouhani highlighted an article of the Iranian Constitution which proposes a public referendum on initiatives on certain issues.

Addressing the opening of an economic conference in Tehran on Sunday, the president noted that one significant article of the Iranian Constitution has been neglected so far.

He said that in his capacity of the country’s chief executive, he is keen to put into practice that part of the Constitution which proposes that as for major economic, social, political and cultural issues, instead of having the suggested changes to the law approved in parliament, they could be put to a referendum.

While parliament retains its supreme position as the legislative body, he added, people should be asked to directly vote on the issues which are of high importance for the country and have a remarkable impact on their lives.

Once in 36 years since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, this chapter of the Constitution has to be invoked, the president noted.

He called for further concentration on the issue of economy and stressed the need for uprooting the economic corruption which he said is massive and rampant.

The president opened the first conference on ‘Strategies for Achieving Sustainable Growth and Employment’.

Several Iranian ministers as well as some 1500 economic experts, university scholars and economic activists are attending the two-day gathering which is to discuss macroeconomic issues.