Berri Slams March 14, Says Formation of Cabinet Not Linked to Electoral Law
Speaker Nabih Berri denied on Friday that the March 8 alliance is linking the formation of the government with the drafting of the new electoral law, urging Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam to discuss with all the major political parties the distribution of the portfolios.
“Achieving any progress in the formation of the government will have a positive impact on us and would facilitate reaching an agreement on the electoral law and vice versa,” Berri said in comments to newspapers.
Berri and his March 8 allies are calling for a national unity cabinet. But the March 14 coalition wants a government whose members are neither political figures nor running in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
On Wednesday, Salam urged leaders to facilitate the formation of his government, reiterating rejection to the monopolization of portfolios by a single sect.
The speaker told al-Joumhouria newspaper that he received positive signs concerning the efforts exerted by Salam on the distribution of portfolios.
“The constitution is clear regarding the representation in the government,” Berri said.
Concerning the electoral subcommittee meeting on Thursday, the AMAL movement leader praised in comments to An Nahar newspaper Hizbullah MP Ali Fayyad's statements that the party is ready to approve any draft-law that the Christian parties agree on.
The electoral subcommittee agreed to hold the next round of talks on Tuesday, its third meeting since it resumed sessions earlier in the week in a last-ditch effort to agree on a controversial vote law.
Berri slammed some March 14 parties after describing Fayyad's statements as a new maneuver, saying: “I reject such analysis.”
He considered that the lawmaker's proposal is an opportunity to reach common ground on the new electoral law.
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