Political Settlement Looming in Horizon to End Parliament Paralysis

A political settlement is likely to be reached between the country's rival leaders to resolve the paralysis of parliament after Speaker Nabih Berri said he reached an “initial understanding” with Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan to pass urgent draft-laws.

Parliament has been unable to legislate over the boycott of several blocs, including the March 14 alliance's lawmakers and Change and Reform MPs. The paralysis is linked to the presidential deadlock.

The majority of the March 8 alliance's MPs have been causing a lack of quorum in sessions aimed at electing a president, leaving the country without a head of state.

President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended in May.

Berri told several local dailies published on Wednesday that he reached an “initial understanding” with Adwan on Tuesday to hold legislative sessions on urgent matters without conditions, but was waiting for the proposal to be backed by al-Mustaqbal movement.

His meeting with Adwan is expected to be followed by talks with al-Mustaqbal bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora.

Berri said a recent talks he held with Kataeb MP Sami Gemayel were “positive.”

But the lawmaker did not clearly state his party's backing to legislative sessions, the speaker added.

The LF, al-Mustaqbal and Kataeb are members of the March 14 alliance.

Al-Liwaa daily quoted a lawmaker as saying that a possible approval of the March 14 alliance to hold legislative sessions on urgent issues would lead to a political settlement to hold the polls or extend the parliament's term.

The speaker said he would prioritize the approval of the public sector wage scale, extra-budgetary spending, draft-laws that allow the government to issue Eurobonds and the adoption of a new electoral law if the legislature began to convene again.

Parliament extended its term last year over the failure of the rival MPs to agree on a new law.

The elections are scheduled to take place in November. According to Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq, 514 Lebanese nationals, including 35 women, submitted their candidacies for the polls by the deadline that ended at midnight Tuesday.

But the polls are not likely to be held on time amid Berri's rejection of another extension of parliament’s mandate.

“The security situation is much better than it was in 2013,” he told the newspapers.

“I respect the parliament's decision but if the extension was proposed at any session, then my bloc and I would reject it,” he stressed.

“I believe there is enough time to prepare for the November 16 polls,” Berri said.

G.K.

H.K.