Rifi Urges Need for Cabinet Convention, Denounces Obstruction by Hizbullah and Allies

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi stated on Saturday that the on-going cabinet obstruction by Hizbullah and Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun jeopardize Lebanon's fate.

“The prolonged disruption carried out by Hizbullah and its allies reflect on the work regularity of the state institutions, and imperil the fate of Lebanon,” stressed Rifi in a press interview.

“For over a year now, Hizbullah has been responsible for the vacuum at the presidential post and continues with the same approach in disrupting the government,” the Minister added.

Salam suspended cabinet sessions last week over a dispute on the appointment of high-ranking military and security officials.

Free Patriotic Movement ministers have warned that they would boycott any session whose agenda is not topped by the appointment of the high-ranking officers.

Rifi voiced calls on Prime Minister Tammam Salam to hold a cabinet session as soon as possible to save Lebanon from what he called “a state of clinical death.”

“There is a pressing need to elect a president and end the more than one year vacuum at the top state position,” he emphasized.

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014.

The rival parties have failed so far to agree on a consensual head of state and lawmakers failed to achieve quorum to elect a president.

On the war in Syria and its repercussions on Lebanon, Rifi said: “There is no fear that the situation in Lebanon would explode. There is a historic moment ahead and we should all beef up for the moment when the Syrian regime falls.”