Title: Parliament Speaker Calls for “True Partnership” to Drive National Progress
In a significant address on national development, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf articulated a powerful vision for a more effective and collaborative governance model, centered on a genuine partnership between the state and the people.
Acknowledging a Critical Disconnect
Speaking at the International Conference on Social Entrepreneurship, Regional Development, and Social Justice, Speaker Qalibaf began by highlighting a crucial challenge. “A bitter reality that troubles all our consciences,” he stated, “is that our true ideals and beliefs do not align with the tangible, everyday lives of the people.” He emphasized that acknowledging this gap is the essential first step toward developing the capacity to solve the nation’s problems.
The Imperative of “Meaningful Participation”
The Speaker argued that solutions are only possible through “meaningful participation” between state institutions and the citizenry. He clarified his use of the term “state institution” to steer the discussion away from partisan politics and focus on the core structural relationship required for progress.
He critiqued a “harmful duality” in the current approach, where state institutions, on one hand, are focused on spending their budgets through what he described as inefficient and flawed structures.
Beyond Charity to Institutional Cooperation
While praising the pure intentions and commendable efforts of traditional charitable activities, Qalibaf pointed out that, according to reports, such actions often lack sustainability and scalability. Drawing on his four and a half decades of field experience, he asserted, “Our cooperation must be of an institutional nature, as an individual cannot advance the work alone.” He posed a critical question: “One side is the state institution, but on the other side, which institution? We speak of the people, but which people and how?”
A “Wise and Capable” State Over Mere Size
Addressing the ongoing debate about the size of government, the Parliament Speaker shifted the focus to its quality. Referencing the Seventh Development Plan, he noted its call for a smaller state. However, he argued, “Before discussing whether the state should be small or large, the important point is that the state must be wise and capable.”
He elaborated that a wise government, one grounded in collective intelligence and rationality, would correctly discern where it needs to expand its role and where it should become more agile and streamlined. “The criterion is not the smallness or largeness of the state; the criterion is efficacy,” Qalibaf firmly stated.
A Problem-Solving Focus for the Future
The Speaker concluded by reinforcing the problem-solving orientation of the country’s roadmap. “The approach of the Seventh Development Plan is problem-oriented and seeks to solve issues,” he said, defending the plan while acknowledging it is not without flaws, which Parliament is prepared to address. He expressed firm belief that progress must be anchored in strategic planning, with a state fully committed to and believing in the nation’s advancement.