Berri urges 'consensus with KSA', reiterates that 'the problem is Maronite'

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has called for “consensus” with Saudi Arabia over the “presidential choice,” as he reiterated that “the problem is Maronite” in the presidential file.

In an interview with al-Akhbar newspaper, Berri said that he is awaiting the outcome of the upcoming Christian gathering in Bkirki, when asked about who can “break the presidential deadlock.”

“When we said yesterday that the problem is Maronite, they got dismayed. And if we say it today, they will also get dismayed, but this is the main problem,” the Speaker added.

“When I say that the problem is inter-Maronite, they accuse me of launching unjust accusations. Any observer can draw one conclusion: they went federalism or confederalism under the label of financial decentralization, which we reject because it was not mentioned in the Taif Accord,” Berri said, in an interview with al-Liwaa newspaper.

“We support broad administrative decentralization, because it involves facilitating people’s affairs and preserves the central state,” the Speaker added.

“What’s notable in this regard is the Free Patriotic Movement’s melting in the stances of the Lebanese Forces to the extent of not finding any differentiation between them, despite Dr. (Samir) Geagea’s rejection of meeting MP (Jebran) Bassil,” Berri went on to say.

“Despite competition inside the same community, Geagea has succeeded in leading the Maronite scene, and whenever he takes a stance Bassil would endorse it and try to go further,” the Speaker added.

As for his recent meeting with Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari, Berri said the atmosphere was “positive.”

“We did not agree, but we did not disagree, and accordingly consensus with the kingdom over the presidential choice is necessary,” Berri added.