'Shut Up', Miqati Reportedly Tells Fayyad in Electric Exchange

Tuesday’s Cabinet session witnessed a heated exchange between Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Energy Minister Walid Fayyad over the electricity plan, media reports said on Wednesday.

“Miqati thanked the Energy Minister for his presentation (in Cabinet about the electricity plan), stressing the need to implement Law 462, especially as to the creation of a regulatory commission,” al-Joumhouria newspaper reported.

“He linked tariff rectification to increasing supply hours, demanding a fast implementation. He then told Fayyad, ‘We can no longer wait until 2023, we must begin the work, especially the reform steps, and the World Bank is waiting for answers from us. We want electricity, hurry up and see what you can do,’” the daily added.

That prompted Fayyad to “fiercely defend his plan and raise his voice, which prompted Miqati to shout him and ask him to ‘shut up,’” al-Joumhouria said.

President Michel Aoun then adjourned the session and the debate over the electricity plan was postponed to a session whose date was not scheduled, the daily added.

Al-Joumhouria reported that Miqati and Fayyad “reconciled at the hall’s door after the session” and that the Energy Minister “showed cordiality towards Miqati, who regretted the word he said.”

Ministerial sources meanwhile told the newspaper that Miqati lost his temper because “he has become embarrassed towards the World Bank and its (regional) director Saroj Kumar Jha with whom he will meet soon.”

“He wanted to carry something in his hands before heading to Munich on Thursday on a visit that might involve a German proposal for the Energy Ministry,” the sources added.