Berri Urges Officials to Focus on People’s Demands, Halt Aggravating Acts

Speaker Nabih Berri said on Wednesday that some officials are carrying out aggravating actions against each other instead of bearing in mind the people’s interests.

“I call on all the political powers, March 8 forces and March 14-led opposition, to work on providing the Lebanese people with their livelihood demands,” Berri told An Nahar newspaper.

He expressed regret over the lack of responsibility that some officials have for opposing the electricity project merely to practice distressing acts.

Berri noted in comments to As Safir newspaper that “those who are opposing the proposed electricity plan, have already agreed on it during ex-Premier Saad Hariri’s cabinet.”

The speaker called on Tuesday the parliament to convene on Thursday in order for it to address various pending issues on the agenda, including a controversial $1.2 billion electricity draft law.

Opposition MPs criticized the bill for excluding the details of the original draft law that was approved by the cabinet on September 7, and demanded the introduction of some modifications to the draft law.

However, the majority has rejected the amendments, accusing March 14 lawmakers of attempting to undermine the authority of Energy Minister Jebran Bassil, who has proposed the electricity project.