Berri says no 'a la carte' legislation as US, Qatar back extending Aoun term

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has commented on the draft law submitted by the Lebanese Forces bloc with the aim of extending the term of Army chief General Joseph Aoun.

“I do not legislate ‘a la carte’ or according to their mood. When they want, they support legislation, and when then don’t want they boycott parliament! I know what I have to do and no one can impose anything on me, neither the session’s date nor its agenda,” Berri said when asked about the LF’s draft law, according to al-Akhbar newspaper.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea and Qatari Ambassador to Lebanon Saud bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani are meanwhile urging the Lebanese parties to extend Aoun’s term, the daily added.

”Shea has asked all those she met with to go to the choice of extension, so that the presidential vacuum does not spread to the army command, especially that there is no agreement on naming a chief of staff,” al-Akhbar said.

“Qatar is not distant from this endeavor and according to informed sources, the Qatari ambassador to Beirut discuss this matter with caretaker PM Najib Mikati some time ago,” the daily added.