President Ahmadinejad’s proposed cabinet is a mix of young faces, old hands and, unexpectedly, three women – the first to be nominated as ministers since the 1979 Islamic revolution. What they all have in common is their loyalty to President Ahmadinejad and their willingness to support the changes he wants to make.

The nominees have to be approved by parliament and it’s by no means certain that all 21 of them will be accepted. One choice likely to face opposition is current Commerce Minster Massoud Mirkazemi who’s been put forward to head the Oil Ministry.

Over 60 percent of Iran’s national income comes from oil revenues and our correspondent in Tehran, Thomas Erdbrink, believes the nomination will be a problem. “Parliament will want someone with a lot of experience in the oil industry, but Mr Mirkazemi has almost no experience. So it really looks like President Ahmadinejad will face an uphill battle getting him elected for that important post”.

A like-minded team
Mr Mirkazemi is not the only nominee with little experience and the president’s desire to push through change is the driving force behind these choices, says Erdbrink. “He needs a team of like-minded people”.

Speaking in a televised interview last Sunday, the president hit back at critics who say he’s surrounding himself with yes-men by emphasising that teamwork was key, and that he wanted a cabinet of ministers who would work together and not put their own interests first.

First women ministers
The appointment of three women to the Ministries of Health, Education and Social Welfare reflects, says Erdbrink, the fact that women do occupy important roles in Iran – despite what outsiders may think.

Critics accuse Mr Ahmadinejad of making a populist gesture in the hope of increasing his support in urban areas, and there’s almost certain to be parliamentary opposition to at least one of the women. Fatemah Ajurloo, who is an MP, was tried and sentenced to four years in prison earlier this year for offering support to a critic of leading clerics. The sentence was not carried out because she enjoys parliamentary immunity, but hard-line Conservative MPs are unlikely to accept her as a cabinet member.

Opposition likely
The battle to win parliamentary approval of his nominees will be another test of just how secure Mr Ahmadinejad’s grip on power is. And he may be in for a rough ride, with opposition coming both from the conservatives who dominate parliament and the moderate elements who see his government as illegitimate after his disputed re-election in June that led to widespread protests and political turmoil. 

Listen to Newsline's interview with Thomas Erdbrink: