Berri Stresses Need for Resumption of Parliament Meetings

Speaker Nabih Berri questioned on Wednesday the recent political debates over the extension of the term of the current parliament.

His visitors quoted as saying: “Attention should instead be focused on the resumption of parliament meetings.”

The parliament must return to performing its duties, including studying a new parliamentary electoral law, he stressed during his weekly meeting with lawmakers.

Furthermore, he criticized some statements that alleged that the government had not been performing its duties properly, noting that it had studied and approved a new electoral law and referred it to parliament.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel had stated on Saturday that he does not rule out the extension of the parliament term in order grant political powers enough time to approve a new electoral law.

The March 14-led opposition has been boycotting government-related activity since the October 19 assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan.

It accused Syria of being behind the murder and blamed the government, which is comprised of mainly Syria allies, of covering up for the criminals.