Report: Berri Urges Aoun to 'Extend Hand' to Franjieh

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Monday that he made many concessions to facilitate the formation of the cabinet, as he urged President Michel Aoun to “open up” to Marada chief MP Suleiman Franjieh to end the stalemate hampering the formation of the cabinet, As Safir daily reported Monday.

“Despite the apparent obstacles, the government could be formed any minute now,” Berri told the daily, as he described as “unrealistic” the reports blaming his for the delay.

“I believe that if Aoun makes an initiative towards Franjieh, the latter will reply the initiative with a better one,” added the Speaker, as he urged Aoun to open up to Franjieh and to end the difference between the two.

He added that the subject was discussed with the President on the sidelines of the reception held on Independence Day.

“The crisis is unjustified. Indicators show that some (party officials) are reviewing their stances and a solution could be reached leading to the formation of the cabinet,” he added.

Touching on the need to stipulate a new electoral law to hold the upcoming parliamentary elections, the Speaker said that shall the 1960 law be adopted, it will “aggravate sharp sectarian alignments” between the Lebanese and will have “dangerous repercussions,” as he stressed the need to stipulate a “new law before it is too late.”