Miqati Denies Seeking Opposition’s Help to Block Electricity Draft Law

Prime Minister Najib Miqati denied that he asked for the opposition’s help to block the electricity bill proposed by MP Michel Aoun at the Parliament session on Thursday, An Nahar newspaper reported.

Miqati stressed that he voiced his support for the draft law “with the adoption of some measures to ensure the success of the project to resolve the electricity crisis.”

Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil had proposed a project for the electricity crisis to construct 700 MW power plants that requires $1.2 billion.

Grand Serail sources ruled out the possibility of a dispute between Miqati and Bassil.

The two had returned to the Serail after the parliamentary session ended to meet with a delegation from Electricite du Liban Workers Syndicate to handle the strike they called for on Monday, the sources added.

However, sources told al-Liwaa newspaper that the Minister was absent from a meeting headed by Miqati Wednesday night.

The daily remarked that the meeting was held away from the media spotlight in an attempt to discuss the electricity crisis with a number of experts.