Nicolas, Qabbani Clash over Unpaid Electricity Bill

A verbal clash between MP Nabil Nicolas and the head of the parliamentary energy committee, MP Mohammed Qabbani, showed the rising tension between the Free Patriotic Movement and the opposition al-Mustaqbal movement.

Nicolas, an MP representing FPM leader Michel Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc, accused Qabbani on Tuesday of evading the payment of over LL16 million in electricity bills.

But the Mustaqbal bloc lawmaker snapped back saying during a press conference that bills revealed by Nicolas belonged to a man whom Qabbani had sued for illegally transferring to his bills the electricity consumption.

But Nicolas did not remain silent to Qabbani’s claims, saying following the meeting of the Change and Reform bloc in Rabiyeh that his presidency of the energy committee should be suspended.

Enraged by the appeal, the Mustaqbal MP accused Energy Minister Jebran Bassil, who is an FPM official, of using Nicolas to confront him over his efforts to defy the “illegal and unconstitutional projects” of Bassil.

Qabbani also accused the energy minister of squandering public funds, saying the report into the investigation on the red diesel scandal will be issued soon.

“I will task a lawyer to begin the procedures to file a lawsuit against Nicolas for his false accusations,” he vowed.

The Audit Bureau’s general prosecutor, Bassam Wehbe, is reviewing an investigation report on the red diesel scandal and will issue his decision within a week.

The scandal erupted after citizens began complaining of red diesel shortages during a one-month subsidy period that ended on January 18. Then reports began emerging that around 8 million liters were sold to the distribution companies hours before the end of the period at subsidized prices.

The companies allegedly made millions of dollars in benefits by selling those amounts at the nonsubsidized price.

Some officials have accused Bassil of involvement in the case.