Berri Hits Back at March 14, Wonders if he Committed a Parliamentary 'Crime'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Speaker Nabih Berri snapped back at accusations by the March 14 opposition alliance that he was seeking to push it into the “trap” of attending parliamentary sessions despite vows by the coalition to boycott legislative activity.
“What is the crime that Nabih Berri committed and what is the trap that he set for the opposition forces?” the speaker wondered in remarks carried by several local newspapers on Monday.
“Is it a crime to call for a general assembly session that represents all of Lebanon in a unifying image, and announce support to the Palestinians?” he asked.
Berri's remarks came a day after March 14 sources told An Nahar daily that the opposition figures are holding intense consultations to avoid “falling in the trap” set by the speaker after calling for a legislative session on Tuesday to hear a speech by the Armenian president.
The alliance boycotted all parliamentary activity following the Oct. 19 assassination of the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief, Wissam al-Hasan, in a car bomb explosion in Beirut's Ashrafiyeh district after it blamed the government for the killing.
The invitation to Tuesday's session and plans for another session to show solidarity with the Palestinian people against the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip are seen as attempts by Berri to "corner" the opposition and end its boycott of the parliament, the sources said.
But March 14 MPs are planning to send a delegation to the Palestinian embassy instead and Armenian opposition lawmakers are seeking to set another location for a meeting with visiting President Serzh Sarkisian, the sources told An Nahar.
March 14 MP Marwan Hamadeh also hinted in remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) that the opposition will boycott Tuesday's session.
He said the boycott is not targeted at the Armenian president.
Berri criticized the opposition's accusations, saying the parliamentary session is not linked to the political crisis or differences on the government.
However, Deputy Speaker Farid Makari, who is a member of the March 14 alliance, hit back, saying “Berri has to choose, he was either right in 2008 or he is right in 2012.”
Makari was referring to Berri's rejection to invite the parliamant to convene in 2008 over differences with the coalition, bringing legislative activity to a standstill.
Makari also denied that separate meetings held between March 14 lawmakers and cabinet ministers contradicted the opposition's decision to boycott the government.
19 November 2012, 08:12
79
Bravo ya ebn el day3a Makari.
We need at the next term to eliminate the warlord Berri.
19 November 2012, 08:17
710
The crime you committed along with the idiot Mansour is that you alienated our Country from the Arabs when they met about the Syria's dictator that exactly is doing what the Israelis are doing to the Palestinians. Hamas getting rockets from Iran are part of your family but the Syrian people are terrorists since the dictator is part of your same Iranian family.
19 November 2012, 09:30
79
berry is starting to feel the heat especially his tricks are not working.
what is his crime? oh they are many:
- May 7 and consequent incidents: amal thugs were responsible for the worst military killings in Beirut.
- supporting the Syrian regime
- executing hizbushaitan activities
- stealing from the Lebanese people
- ....
19 November 2012, 10:58
58
All together we shout : " ir7al ir7al ya Berri ". He's been around for too long, he's way past his expiry date.
19 November 2012, 13:10
73
They knew you were going to lock them in, and beat them to a pulp. Say whatever you want about Berri. He will always rule in Lebanon. If you don't believe me, wait for 2013.
19 November 2012, 15:05
24
Berri the snake killed more Palestinians then Israel did...he should be on trials for crimes against humanity in the same class as Sharon and Assad...
19 November 2012, 15:51
14
killing is killing ya Zaki...Berri killed Palestinians on Hafez Assad orders because Arafat will not submit to Hafez the butcher...but my point is that now he loves Palestinians so much that he wants to convene parliament...what a snake Berri is...
19 November 2012, 16:44
05
When M14 was the gov't M8 walked out of parliament to block votes.....then camped in front of parliement to try and stop justice. What are you talking about Berri? You are a greedy idiot who is finished in "bolitics". M14 will never allow you to run parliament again.
19 November 2012, 17:06
05
thing is, M14 doesn't trust him. He has turned his back on them too many times. If somehow he does go to M14, he will NEVER get the position of speaker, nor will another Amal member. It just won't happen.
If Berri wants to make himself relevant, maybe he should resign and take more of an advisory role like Jumblatt. No one trusts him as a member of government from any side. Just in the last year, his members were responsible for the Zahrani plant takeover, the striking day workers at EDL, and the shooting at Al Jadeed TV station as well . Why would anyone trust this guy with this resume'?
19 November 2012, 17:59
04
My hope is that once we have removed ALL weapons in Lebanon except the states, then there will be more accountability. Like I said put everyone on a level playing field. We are bound to come out of this feudalism mentality when we are not dictated by fear or wasta or theft. Then we can really call ourselves a democracy.
19 November 2012, 21:59
01
Ahhhhh NOW it makes sense! It is NOT a crime to politicize the palestinian situation the horrible attacks Israeli's are doing on them, but IT IS WRONG to politicize the murder of Al-Hassan and any other M14 political figure, the government's performance and the economical disaster they have us in, or whom we should be grieving for, because apparentely 40+ Thousand of Syrians dead and hundreds more each day does not require our solidarity, but when less than a hundred palestinian dies thats what breaks the camel's back for Berri.
