Less than four months after Ebrahim Raisi assumed the presidency in Iran, widespread nepotism has sparked criticism even among his own Principalist camp.

On Nov. 16, Raisi reacted to the accusations for the first time in an open session of the parliament to discuss the proposed Minister of Education, Massoud Fayazi — the son-in-law of Alireza Zakani, a hardline politician who resigned in the run up to June 18 presidential elections in Raisi’s favor.

“Nomination is based on competence, and camaraderie, kinship and media pressure do not affect my choice," Raisi said. "Compare our government with the other governments in the last three decades. How much comradeship has played a role in picking individuals? Where are the relatives in the posts [in my government]?”

Nevertheless, lawmakers who are fully aligned with the current government did not vote in favor of Fayazi. The latter is the current mayor of Tehran, and was elected by the hardliner-led Tehran city council, whose members were elected in the June 18 city council elections after a record low turnout on the same day as the presidential votes.