Naharnet

Legislative Session Postponed Again over Lack of Quorum

Speaker Nabih Berri postponed a controversial parliamentary session for the 8th time to January 28 over lack of quorum.

The session had 45 items on the agenda.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati and March 14 alliance lawmakers have been boycotting the legislative sessions over claims that the parliament cannot convene under a resigned government.

Miqati resigned in March and Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam was appointed in April. But he has so far failed to form the new cabinet.

The Change and Reform bloc of Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun is also boycotting the sessions that Berri has called for over the speaker's failure to include in the agenda draft-laws proposed by the bloc.

March 14 MP Robert Ghanem, who was among several other lawmakers who attended the session before Berri's announcement, rejected claims that there was a vacuum in state institutions.

“As long as the president hasn't signed the resignation decree, the government has full executive authorities,” he said.

“It should continue to manage the country's affairs and convene when necessary,” Ghanem added.


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