Baabda Sources Say Solution to 'Legislative-political Confrontation' Lies in Cabinet Formation
Baabda palace officials have warned that the country has entered a stage of “legislative-political confrontation” that would only be resolved through the formation of a new government and the resumption of all-party talks.
“The president does not see any useful solution to all the crises or developments except for speeding up a political understanding … that paves way for a national dialogue” session, the officials said.
“The other best solution for the current dispute on a legislative session is to speed up the formation of the cabinet,” they said.
The officials, who refused to be identified told An Nahar and As Safir dailies published Tuesday, that politicians should begin resolving the dispute on the constitutionality of the parliamentary session through the study of article 69 of the constitution.
The article's third item says during a resigned government the parliament shall automatically be considered convened in extraordinary session until a new cabinet has been formed and has gained the legislature's confidence.
The officials said President Michel Suleiman expressed regret at the political divisions that have sectarian backgrounds.
A dispute between politicians on the constitutionality of the session that Speaker Nabih Berri had called for went out of proportions on Monday when several blocs boycotted it for claiming that the speaker cannot ask the legislature to convene amid a resigned cabinet unless it has important issues on its agenda.
The Baabda officials said that Suleiman would not stand in the way of the formation of a non-political cabinet on condition that it is capable of garnering the required quorum of 65 MPs to get a vote of confidence.
They warned however that the president would not sign any decree of a government that is not able to receive the vote of confidence.
Sources close to Premier-designate Tammam Salam reiterated that his attempts to put together a cabinet were still in the initial stages.
“There is absolute paralysis in the efforts exerted to resolve the obstacles preventing the formation of the government,” they said.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/89000 |