Hamid Baqai

Hamid Baqai (Persian: حميد بقایی; born 6 April 1969 in Tehran) is an Iranian politician who was Head of Presidential Center since 9 April 2011.^[1] He has been described as a pragmatic, moderate Conservative with "liberal views on cultural and social issues"^[2] Before his appointment in office, He was Head of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization from 30 July 2009 to 9 April 2011. He is a top advisor to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Early life

He was born on 6 April 1969 in Tehran, Iran. His family was from Kermanshah. He have Ph.D from Iran University of Science and Technology in physiology.

Political career

He was appointed Deputy Head of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization in 24 August 2005 by Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei. When Mashaei became First Vice President of Iran in July 2009, Baqai was appointed as Head of Organization and was in office until 9 April 2011 when he became Head of Presidential Center of Iran and succeeded Rahim Mashaei again.

On 21 May 2011, he was banned from public offices for four years because he was exposed as having a part in a multi-million dollar embezzlement during the construction of a building in Kish Island.^[1] The building was planned for the summit of countries of the Non-aligned movement. The paper said Baqai had paid the contractor roughly $340 million in addition to the initial amount on the contract. State-run media revealed that the contractor, Fiak Company, was founded by a regime-affiliated individual abroad on the recommendation of Baqai and Mashai. The company was started by officially declaring $1,000 in its holdings.

As of 10 August 2011 he was Vice President for Executive Affairs.^[3]

References

External links

• Saeed Kamali Dehghan, Ahmadinejad grooms chief-of-staff to take over as Iran's president, The Guardian, 21 April, 2011