Berri: Parliament is Entitled to Legislate Regardless of Conditions

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Monday the need to resolve the dispute over the parliamentary electoral law, while underlining that legislative sessions can be held irrespective of the developments in the country.

He said during a press conference: “Parliament is entitled to hold a legislative session regardless of the conditions in the country.”

He stated that he will “soon” call the joint committees to meet to address the various electoral draft-laws, saying there are some 17 laws that should be addressed.

“Once they are narrowed down to two or three, we can meet at parliament and ratify a law that can be adopted in the elections,” explained Berri before reporters.

“I am making these proposals out of my keenness for the country,” he stressed.

“I will remain true to my convictions that parliament should be able to legislate regardless of the conditions.”

Parliament convenes twice a year in two ordinary sessions -- the first starts mid-march until the end of May and the second from the middle of October through the end of December.

But the absence of a president since the end of President Michel Suleiman’s term in May 2014 has paralyzed the parliament and led to wrangling among cabinet ministers.

The differences between the different parties also worsened in the past month when they started exchanging accusations of corruption following several scandals that rocked the country.

Political powers are at odds over holding the legislative session.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said that the session's first article should be the electoral draft-law. This stance was echoed by the Free Patriotic Movement.

The Kataeb party meanwhile stresses that parliament should only meet to elect a head of state.

M.T.

D.A.