Miqati to Aoun’s Ministers: No to Giving up the PM’s Authorities

The government approved a draft law on Friday to ban lawmakers from serving in the cabinet after a heated session over demands by the ministers loyal to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun to include the prime minister in the provisions.

The session was chaired by President Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace.

Media reports said on Saturday that FPM ministers held onto their stance that even the premier should resign as lawmaker as soon as the cabinet receives its vote of confidence.

But Premier Najib Miqati hit back saying he rejects to give up the authorities given to him by the Taef Accord. “The same as the president and the speaker, the prime minister has his own symbolism.”

“It is unacceptable to deal with the premier this way. That’s why I reject this and I will include an article in the draft law excluding the prime minister from its provisions.”

Along with Miqati, Suleiman, Minister Mohammed Safadi and the ministers loyal to Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat rejected the FPM proposal.

Following Miqati’s stern stance and after five hours of deliberations, the ministers including those representing Aoun approved the draft law that excluded the prime minister from the ban of MPs to serve in the government.

An Nahar daily quoted ministerial sources as saying that the demands of FPM ministers were seen as a campaign against Miqati to “target the premiership.”

The lengthy discussions forced the cabinet to postpone the discussion of the electoral draft law. But the ministers agreed to hold another session next Wednesday to discuss the bill.

Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi, who is loyal to Jumblat, continued to boycott the cabinet sessions. When asked by An Nahar about such a move, he said: “I prefer to participate in productive sessions that take decisions and implement them.”