Berri Hits Back at Mustaqbal Criticism, Says Parliament is its Own Master
Speaker Nabih Berri has snapped back at al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc which accused him of encouraging “unacceptable” practices by insisting on keeping the agenda of the national assembly intact.
“Everyone should know that the parliament is the top institution and gives legitimacy to governments,” Berri said in remarks published in several newspapers on Wednesday.
“It has approved the constitution of the Taef accord without the presence of a cabinet,” he said.
The speaker's remarks came a day after al-Mustaqbal said following its weekly meeting that Berri was “insisting on the agenda of the parliamentary session that is aimed at consolidating unacceptable customs.”
It said also said in its statement in a reference to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun that there were factions that claimed to support state institutions while working to undermine the constitution.
“The parliament is its own master and will remain so with regard to the legislative session and the same agenda,” Berri said.
“All what others are doing is aimed at covering up for the (failure) to form a government,” he added.
Berri postponed on Monday for the third consecutive time a parliamentary session which has 45 draft-laws on its agenda, including the extension of Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji's mandate.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati, the March 14 alliance's MPs and Aoun's Change and Reform bloc have been boycotting the session.
While Miqati and March 14, intruding al-Mustaqbal, claim that Berri does not have the right to call for a session with a wide agenda amid a resigned cabinet, Aoun says the extension of Qahwaji's term is unconstitutional.
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