Berri Says he Reached Deal with Miqati on Controversial Session
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Speaker Nabih Berri has rejected throwing the ball in his court over the crisis on the constitutionality of a parliamentary session, saying he had reached an agreement with caretaker Premier Najib Miqati to resolve the problem.
In remarks to An Nahar newspaper published Sunday, Berri said it was wrong to throw the ball in his court after reports emerged that President Michel Suleiman and Miqati had reached a deal and were waiting for his approval.
Berri stressed that a meeting he held with Suleiman and Miqati earlier in the week “led to an understanding in which each one of us expressed his point of view.”
But the speaker did not reveal its details. He only denied he had a problem with the president.
The solution to the three-day parliamentary session scheduled to take place on July 16 comes through “the quick formation of the government to avoid the current dispute on its constitutionality,” he told An Nahar.
Berri had called for the session last week, but the March 14 alliance's parliamentary blocs and the Change and Reform bloc of MP Michel Aoun boycotted it, preventing the required quorum.
Miqati also informed Berri that he would not attend the session for claiming that there was an imbalance between the parliament and the caretaking cabinet.
But the speaker stressed that the session was constitutional.
He told An Nahar that he was also holding onto its agenda, which includes several draft-laws, including the extension of Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji's mandate.
Miqati and March 14 argue that the parliament can meet to take important decisions such as Qahwaji's term extension amid a resigned cabinet. But that the other draft-laws on the agenda are unnecessary.
Berri said: “The problem does not lie in finding solutions to the legislative session. But in the agenda.”
“I can confirm that as soon as all political blocs agree on the agenda's articles, I am ready to go ahead with the deal,” he said.
“Let them first agree and the rest is on me,” Berri added.
07 July 2013, 08:15
05
Who needs a constitution, deal brokering has become the new norm
Parliament can not extend its own term
Cabinets formation should not be conditional upon granting opposition veto power.
The LAF and ISF dhould be the only ones holding arms, defending the border and ensuring safety of the citizens.
Everyone should pay for electricity.
07 July 2013, 08:59
04
This is not a government it is a game show, Lets Make a Deal. But Mr. Speaker, the Lunatic ex-general will not play if son-in-law #2 is not given command of the army.
07 July 2013, 09:43
03
That is blasphemous... Aoun is one of a kind, there will never be another made in his image... RFT you should be ashamed of yourself for saying such a thing!
PS. has Lebpatriot been excommunicated?
07 July 2013, 14:50
01
I would agree once again with you ONLY the LAF is & will always be our National protector of Lebanon the Lebanese people ! Who gives a damn about Any MP , they only run for the interest of their family not for the citizens of our Holy Cedar Land called Lebanon or any Lebanese ! Our power should be invested in our National Army by 10 fold , Expand our National Navy by a 100 fold & more on our National Air Force by a 1000 fold , know having said that let us see which politician is willing to betray his nation or his people with this strong huge investment of our LAF ! 10% of our gas exploration profits should automatically go towards our LAF which would make it as strong if not stronger than the Israeli Armed forces . This is our future investment towards our youth who are very highly educated that our LAF desperately wants ! We will prosper & beat any ME nation in the region!
07 July 2013, 17:38
00
100%. On the spot spirit. Let the govt come out with a law (I can think of a few MPs who will vot against this) that any person found carrying and/or inciting people to arm will be put to death. Everyone has a month or two to hand things in. See how the (serious) issues in Lebanon will disappear. Put it up for a referendum.
