Berri Refuses Backing Down on Electricity Bill Consensus

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed that he will not back down on the consensus reached over the electricity bill that he suggested during Wednesday’s joint parliamentary committees meeting.

“The electricity plan will be subjected to vote during today’s (Thursday’s) parliamentary session,” Berri told As Safir newspaper on Thursday.

Berri voiced hope that the parliament approves the draft law, “it’s for the benefit of all,” he said.

The joint committees agreed during Wednesday’s meeting on modifying the electricity proposal adopted by the Cabinet, which forces Energy Minister Jebran Bassil to form a new board of directors for Electricite du Liban and the Electricity Regulatory Authority after the parliament approves the draft law.

Asked about the position of the Free Patriotic Movement, which refuted the amendments on the argument that they contradict the proposal reached by the cabinet, he said: “The legislative authority has the right to introduce amendments for any proposal adopted by the cabinet.”

“This is not a violation,” Berri stressed.

The speaker noted that the consensus reached by the rivals in the March 8 and March 14 camps was the fruit of the discussions that took place during the joint parliamentary committees meeting.

“Everyone wants to resolve the electricity problem… I suggested adopting the draft law agreed on by the cabinet to form a common ground between March 8 and March 14-led opposition,” Berri said.

Bassil proposed a project to end the electricity crisis calling for the construction of power plants that would generate 700 MW and demanding $1.2 billion to fund the project.