Berri's bloc slams 'campaigns' against him, says some 'fear dialogue'
Speaker Nabih Berri’s Development and Liberation bloc on Friday said it condemns “any insults, unjust accusations or disdain for the presidential posts and their powers and roles.”
“The unjust accusation campaigns against the parliament speaker and his role and jurisdiction are certainly deplorable and their objectives are exposed,” the bloc said after a meeting in Ain el-Tineh under Berri.
“At the core of its existence and unique spiritual and political structure Lebanon is a country of dialogue and daily rapprochement among its various religious and political components, so why do some fear the reason behind Lebanon’s existence, which is dialogue?” the bloc added.
“Why is dialogue or consultation being depicted as if it is a scarecrow and an infringement on the system and the constitution?” the bloc wondered.
It added that “the nature of complications and balances in parliament and the current deadlock necessitate that there be serious consultations and dialogue … for several days leading to a consensus over one, two or three candidates.”
The opposition lawmakers had on Tuesday announced two suggestions aimed at facilitating the election of a new president and ending the country’s long-running presidential vacuum, an initiative that was dismissed by Berri and his camp.
“MPs would meet in parliament and hold consultations, without an official invitation, institutionalization or any specific framework, out of keenness on respecting the rules related to the election of presidents stipulated by the Lebanese constitution,” the opposition proposed.
“Consultations would not exceed a period of 48 hours, after which MPs would go -- regardless of the consultations’ outcome -- to an open-ended electoral session with successive rounds until a president is elected, as per the constitution,” the opposition added.
Another suggestion would be for Speaker Nabih Berri to “call for a presidential election session under his chairmanship,” the opposition said.
“Should no election take place in the first round, the session would remain open and MPs and blocs would hold consultations outside parliament’s hall for a period not exceeding 48 hours, after which they would return to the hall for voting in successive rounds not exceeding four rounds daily … until the election of a president,” the opposition added.
“All parties would commit to attending the rounds and securing quorum,” it said.
Source: Naharnet
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