Suleiman Fails to Bridge Miqati-Berri Differences on Parliament Session
Attempts by President Michel Suleiman to bring viewpoints closer between Speaker Nabih Berri and Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati on a controversial parliamentary session have failed, media reports said Friday.
Local dailies quoted informed sources as saying that a meeting held between Suleiman, Berri and Miqati at Baabda palace on Wednesday night focused on the constitutionality of the session that the speaker has called for.
Miqati argues that parliament cannot convene amid a resigned government unless it has important issues on its agenda.
The legislature was set to meet last Monday for three days but the March 14 alliance and the Change and Reform bloc boycotted it, which forced Berri to postpone it to July 16.
Berri held onto the agenda that has several draft-laws, including the extension of Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji's term and stressed that the session is legal based on article 69 of the constitution.
The article's third clause 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.
“Everyone should attend (the session) to discuss the draft-laws,” Berri told An Nahar newspaper. “Each MP has the right to take the stance he wants.”
The speaker reiterated that the crisis on the constitutionality of the session would be resolved if a new government was formed. “That's when parliament and the rest of the institutions could function normally.”
Premier-designate Tammam Salam is adamant to put together his cabinet, he said.
An Nahar said however that President Michel Suleiman is planning to sign a decree calling for an extraordinary session to resolve the crisis.
Article 33 of the constitution states that the president in agreement with the prime minister may summon the parliament to extraordinary sessions by a decree that specifies the dates of the opening and closing of the sessions as well as the agenda.
But Miqati has stressed that he rejects signing such a bill.
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