Berri Gives Cabinet a Push despite Parliament Paralysis

Speaker Nabih Berri has expressed concern over the differences between cabinet members who have again failed to resolve the dispute on the appointment of deans at the Lebanese University.

While the ministers reached an agreement on Thursday on the full-time employment of LU contract workers, the education decree was not approved over differences between the Kataeb Party and the Progressive Socialist Party on the appointments.

The issue, which was first discussed last week, was postponed to the cabinet's next session.

According to An Nahar daily published Friday, Berri told his visitors that he was “frustrated” from the situation.

He hailed Prime Minister Tammam Salam on his “patience and ability to carry this burden.”

“Had someone else been in his position, he would have been unable to stay in the premiership,” Berri's visitors quoted him as saying.

The speaker said he was working on the activation of the government's work despite the paralysis of parliament, which has been unable to legislate over the boycott of several blocs.

“I insist on supporting it so that it remains and continues” to function, he said.

Berri reiterated that the nation is like the human body. “If one part is damaged, then we should fix it and not damage the other organs as well.”