FPM, PSP Ministers Trade Accusations at Cabinet over Electricity File
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Disputes erupted at cabinet on Wednesday between ministers from the Free Patriotic Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party over the electricity draft law that was proposed by FPM leader MP Michel Aoun.
Ministerial sources told the Central News Agency that the electricity file was set as a priority, but talks soon took a sour turn as the FPM and PSP ministers accused the other of adopting a militia mentality and seeking to impose their will by force.
FPM sources told the Central News Agency: “Reservations voiced by some members of cabinet stem from technical and legal questions on the draft law that are only aimed at thwarting its adoption.”
“These members are also unwilling to present the electricity file on a silver platter to the Christians, and Aoun in particular,” they added.
Aoun had threatened that his ministers would resign from cabinet should the electricity draft law fail to be approved.
He stated on Tuesday: “The government can resign, but our dignity will remain intact.”
Meanwhile, PSP leader MP Walid Jumblat indirectly responded to these statements by telling As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Wednesday: “We will not succumb to threats and blackmail.”
“We are not concerned if the current political alliance is destabilized,” he added.
A few weeks ago, parliament had failed to approve an electricity draft law proposed by Aoun that allows Energy Minister Jebran Bassil to receive $1,200,000,000 to implement a project on producing 700 Megawatts of electricity.
The March 14-led opposition and the National Struggle Front says that the draft law gives the minister the freedom to use the amount of money without referring to the cabinet or without any monitoring by the Audit Bureau.
24 August 2011, 18:48
05
What a FREE and PATRIOTIC movement! Either my way or i walk out! Very democratic of u mr aoun and mr bassil.
24 August 2011, 19:52
13
Send these crooks packing to Syria before they steal the rest of the money! They can have a great holiday with their best friends. And do not forget the rat hidding underground Mr Nasrallagh too.
24 August 2011, 21:00
03
Why are they rushing this altogether? That is a large project and require input from all experts, technical and financial and should not be politicized . . . . . The way Bassil is acting, it looks like he is the sales person who is getting commission on the project! Just saying
24 August 2011, 21:02
02
slash, please no I'll do anything, free elections, reforms, I'll even abdicate and rename the place Rhodesia but pleeeeeeeeeeeese keep Bassil!
24 August 2011, 21:12
20
March 8 has shown that it truly cares for the welfare of this country, unlike the corrupt march 14 baboons! ONE WAY TICKET!
24 August 2011, 21:30
50
really sad to read the comments above, sad sad..
Marc why are we rushing this??? THIS NEEDS TO BE RUSHED ASAP no time to waste no seconds, no minutes pass it NOW! this is a humanatirian crisis!!!!!!
it is obvious now that the people opposing this law are the people responsible for the continued demise of this country! so please tell me experts if this law is not passed now WHAT IS YOUR PLAN??? to resolve this electrical crisis?? the answer to that is nothing wait another 5 years for it ! there are more important issues at hand havent you heard, like the tribunal for instance.
and i had a very good laugh earlier reading other sad comments here, such as " this electric. plan is useless , we need to fund green energy"! I rest my case when i say some people here are still in disneyland..
let me ask you a question green experts: how am i to build a solar power rig when i dont even have the minimum start electric power to power my drill to screw in the panels!!
24 August 2011, 21:35
02
This is not a masquerade and its only a game Aoun and Hezbollah are playing. Once the next STL report shows up if implicating lots of Lebanese leaders and high level individual Aoun will use the refusal of the cabinet on his electricity proposal and resign from the goverment. Having said that then the Care taker can say "I don't have what it takes to follow STL/support it."
Aoun again is being hard nosed because of this upcoming events and he's being paid good to make sure he will resign his MP's in order to slow down the STL..
24 August 2011, 22:13
02
An: this isn't a humanitarian crisis, is bad yes but not to the extent of a humanitarian issue. And no those who are opposing aren't it aren't in favor for the demise of the state! U don't just adopt a policy hek bc it's needed, no matter the flaws! Why implement a policy which has major flaws? A proper and successful state adopts the best policy possible, not jut rush any policy bc it's been proposed.
24 August 2011, 22:32
04
why we dont enter directly in the proper very simple subject:
walid jumblat gave hizb and his cronies this government when bashar was still having a firm grip on power.
now jumblat calculating the real actual value of bashar,,is taking the government back,wether aoun and his family is electrical or AAA battery.
25 August 2011, 03:24
00
It is called collaboration and discussion, there are ups and downs especially when a large project is being negotiated or discussed,THINK BIG, Aoun's plan is to divorce buying electricity from Syria (Deyr 3mar in North Lebanon) by producing enough reserve for all Lebanon, it is important to hire Auditors to monitor where and how the money is being spent so that the new reactor producing electricity is not called "Aoun Electricity" same as Harriri International Airport as those assets/money belong to the Lebanese people and republic of Lebanon only.
25 August 2011, 08:56
20
I suggest that you all get better acquainted with a subject before posting nonsense. This bill (law) was approved by the Hariri (Saad) government but never implemented. It SHOULD not be open to further cabinet discussions and only put forth for approval by parliament, unless you consider that ALL decision taken by the previous governments are also null and void.
25 August 2011, 09:01
20
I suggest that you all get better acquainted with a subject before posting nonsense. This bill (law) was approved by the Hariri (Saad) government but never implemented. It SHOULD not be open to further cabinet discussions and only put forth for approval by parliament, unless you consider that ALL decision taken by the previous governments are also null and void.
25 August 2011, 10:06
02
Mimine, and whoever did not read the above comments more attentively,
The argument/concern being said by many here is not regarding whether the electricity projected should be implemented. We all agree on that, only someone enjoying 24/7 power would be selfish enough to reject this project. However, it should not be rushed in UNLESS a proper governmental (or even independent) overseeing/monitoring process is set in place.
This way, it becomes a bit harder for the politicians to steal OUR tax paying money.
Therefore, when the FPM insist on just rushing through the proposal without implementing the process mentioned above, I (along with several many) start suspecting that they have dishonest intentions in mind.)
Having this suspicious is natural honestly, I do not need to be a zionist agent to reach such a conclusion.
25 August 2011, 18:24
01
haramieh all of you. Rats fighting over the jebne. They don't trust each other how can the lebanese trust them? Imbassil and taaoun are rushing to get the money so they can run away with it before the war starts . It does not take a genious to figure it out.
25 August 2011, 22:16
01
Yes, the most probable situation taking place is that they are fighting over the jebneh. Disappointing
