Aoun: When Dispute over Interior Ministry is Resolved, Others Will Arise

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun demanded on Tuesday that Speaker Nabih Berri convene parliament to hold a legislative session in order to approve a number of draft laws.

He said after the movement’s weekly meeting: “We resorted to Berri because he is the only authority in the matter.”

Commenting on the speaker’s statements that a legislative session cannot be convened without a government, Aoun cited previous incidents in Lebanon’s history when a legislative session was held without a Cabinet.

He cited the time in 2005 when the new parliament convened in light of the resigned government to issue a pardon for then imprisoned Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.

Addressing the government formation process, Aoun said: “If President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati have the authority to form a government, then we have the right to refrain from granting it our approval.”

In addition, he noted that in the past, the parliamentary majority, not the minorities, acquired the sovereign portfolios.

“This is what we are simply asking,” stated the MP.

“When the problem of the Interior Ministry portfolio is resolved, then disputes over other ministries will arise,” he stressed.

It appears that the concerned sides don’t want to form a new government, Aoun noted.