Miqati Cites Government Achievements Despite Disputes, Challenges Opposition

Premier Najib Miqati told parliament on Tuesday that the government made several achievements and promised to implement other plans despite the disputes among its members.

Miqati stressed at the start of the three-day parliamentary session that he exerted strong efforts to preserve stability by visiting the South and funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

He also defended the policy of distancing Lebanon from the crisis in Syria. “Some say the policy is a way of fleeing from one’s responsibilities. It is not,” he stressed.

While he admitted that there are disputes among members of his cabinet, he said the government has appointed several civil servants to state posts and will continue to exert efforts to do so.

The prime minister also slammed criticism that his government wasn’t doing enough to ward off the rising fuel prices, saying the increase in prices was global.

Miqati had described the legislative session aimed at assessing the government’s performance as part of the democratic process but challenged the March 14 opposition that has threatened to seek a vote of confidence.

In remarks to several Beirut newspapers, Miqati said he was ready for all possibilities at the session that was called for by Speaker Nabih Berri.

“It is natural to hold such a session particularly that it comes as part of the parliamentary and democratic work,” he said. “Holding it is a clear indication that the political system is healthy.”

Asked about threats to bring his government down, Miqati said: “A vote of confidence is part of the democratic work and parliamentary standards.”

If the opposition will seek a confidence vote “then so be it,” he said. “We don’t object to that.”

The March 14 coalition accuses the government of incompetency at the political, security and economic levels.

Several lawmakers have threatened to grill Energy Minister Jebran Bassil over severe power cuts and Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui for allegedly refusing to provide the Internal Security Forces with mobile phone records necessary for the arrest of suspects involved in assassination attempts against Lebanese officials.

But the opposition has admitted that it can’t force the collapse of Miqati’s government given that National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblat, who is a centrist, has announced his support for the cabinet.