Report: Berri Annoyed with Parties Handling of Law Proposal
Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, the political assistant of Speaker Nabih Berri, refrained from attending what was described as an unprecedented meeting between various political parties over an electoral law, and that Berri is annoyed with the parties and their handling of his suggestion of an electoral law format, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.
The daily said that “Khalil's absence came upon Berri's request as an expression of dissatisfaction with how his latest law proposal was handled by the political parties.”
A meeting over the electoral law was held Friday afternoon between the representatives of the country's main political parties: The Free Patriotic Movement, Hizbullah, al-Mustaqbal Movement, Lebanese Forces and the Progressive Socialist Party.
It was the first such meeting to be attended by a PSP representative and also the first one marred by the absence of Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, the political assistant of Speaker Nabih Berri.
Berri was quoted as saying: “The electoral atmosphere has been subjected to pleasant winds in the past few hours with positive and encouraging answers" to his proposal on proportional representation and the establishment of a senate.
The proposal was welcomed by President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who was very positive, MP Walid Jumblatt, and the Lebanese Forces, it added.
However, Berri pointed out: “But things suddenly declined from positive to negative on Thursday afternoon, although we thought they were close to reach the happy conclusion until we received a negative response at midnight.”
The daily said that FPM leader Jebran Bassil has texted Berri after 11:00 pm on Thursday rejection his electoral law proposal.
Berri had announced early on Thursday that he had finalized two draft laws, one for the parliamentary electoral law and another for the establishment of senate. He sent them for political parties for deliberation.
“I have nothing more to offer,” Berri said. "I gave them the best I could give. The ball is in their court now. I do not accept the parliament extension, nor vacuum. It is their responsibility to reach a consensus law, and I am waiting for them.”
Asked about the crucial May 15 legislative session, Berri said: “The meeting is still on schedule. If the quorum is complete it will be held, otherwise it will be deferred to another date until it convenes.”
Source: Naharnet
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