Berri Postpones Legislative Session over Lack of Quorum But Holds Onto Same Agenda

Speaker Nabih Berri postponed on Monday a three-day parliamentary session over lack of quorum caused by the boycott of several blocs for their doubt on the constitutionality of the session with a resigned government.

His office released a statement saying the session was postponed to July 16-17-18 to discuss the same items that were put on Monday's agenda.

Berri had told local dailies that he would not change any article despite criticism by Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati, March 14 alliance lawmakers and the Change and Reform bloc that is part of the March 8 coalition.

MP Ali Hassan Khalil, Berri's political aide, accused Miqati of “ignoring parliament’s legislative rights.”

He criticized “those who want to impose their conditions on parliament and force its collapse.”

“Berri has always been keen on the political and security stability and has always been in contact with all the parties,” the lawmaker said.

“We can't change the division of power guaranteed by the Constitution,” he added.

His short press conference in parliament came after Miqati reiterated that the session was unconstitutional.

Al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Ahmed Fatfat told reporters in parliament that the boycott decision was aimed at respecting the constitution.

He accused Berri of not being a moderate. “We want a constitutional session,” Fatfat said.

Al-Mustaqbal along with their allies in the March 14 alliance and Miqati argue that a session cannot be held amid a resigned cabinet unless it has important issues on its agenda.

They say that except for the extension of Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji’s mandate, none of the other items on the agenda are urgent to justify holding a session in the absence of a government.

“We are not against the extension of the army commander's term. We want the extension for all security leaders,” Fatfat said.

Aoun on the other hand has his own reason for boycotting the session. He said on several occasions that he rejects the extension.

MP Ghazi Zoaiter from Berri's Development and Liberation bloc accused the MPs who boycotted the session of seeking to “destroy the country over sectarian interests.”

But Lebanese Forces lawmaker Antoine Zahra snapped back at him, telling LBCI TV: “Out of our interest in our continued cooperation with Speaker Berri, I hope that we don't reach the stage where we are accused by his political team of paralyzingly the session.”

Such a move “would not serve anyone,” he said.