Berri Postpones Legislative Session until after Govt. is Granted Confidence

Speaker Nabih Berri postponed on Tuesday the legislative session that was scheduled for Wednesday, saying that he will set a new date after the new government receives the vote of confidence from parliament.

A dispute ensued between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over the constitutionality of Berri’s call for a legislative session in light of the then governmental vacuum.

The March 14 camp had criticized the session saying that it was seeking to replace government’s executive role.

Berri meanwhile defended it, stressing that it was aimed at approving draft laws and “preventing the establishment of a masked dictatorship.”

Addressing the accusations that he violated the constitution, he said last Wednesday: “As soon as government resigns, parliament becomes in a constant state of session.”