Naharnet

Aoun's Bloc Sees Return to 'Atmosphere of Consensus', Urges Appointments Approval

The Change and Reform bloc led by MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday hoped “consensus” will return to the council of ministers, as it stressed that administrative and military appointments are “at the core of the government's responsibilities,” even amid the absence of a president.

“It seems that the atmosphere of consensus has returned and the first test will be during tomorrow's session,” former minister Salim Jreissati said after the weekly meeting of the Change and Reform bloc in Rabieh.

“Appointments are at the core of the government's responsibilities, so let us approve them,” he added, on the eve of a cabinet session that will be held at the Grand Serail.

Addressing the rival camp, Jreissati said: “Return to your national conscience and revive the powers of the cabinet.”

“No one can pressure us politically regarding our principled stances,” he added.

The posts of high-ranking military and security officials are a source of contention among cabinet members, mainly Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement and Prime Minister Tammam Salam.

The FPM's ministers have stressed that the issue should be a top priority at cabinet sessions because they consider the extension of the officials' terms illegal.

Turning to the parliament's extended term, Jreissati reiterated Tuesday that the extension of the parliament's term was “illegitimate.”

“We do not consider the parliament illegal but rather illegitimate, which is why we have demanded a rectification of the course, the election of a president and a just electoral law,” he said.

“Aoun's initiative is based on approving a new electoral law ... Therefore it is based on holding parliamentary polls that would precede the presidential vote,” Jreissati explained.

Meanwhile, Change and Reform bloc MP Hikmat Dib tackled the growing garbage crisis.

“The municipalities need funds and we've always struggled for the release of the money of the Independent Municipal Fund so that municipalities can take charge of things ... Decentralization through municipalities is the solution,” he said.

“We call on municipalities and municipal unions to address the problem and take charge of things,” the lawmaker added.

He accused the Sukleen firm -- which has been in charge of collecting garbage in Beirut and Mount Lebanon since 1997 -- of practicing “major monopolization.”

“The waste management issue must be addressed in a civilized manner. The tenders will fail, as it is wrong to confine the file to one or two firms,” Dib added.

The growing garbage crisis erupted after the closure of the Naameh landfill on July 17.

The crisis has seen streets overflowing with waste and the air filled with the smell of rotting garbage for around two weeks. Residents have taken to the streets in areas across Lebanon to protest authorities' failure to tackle the problem.

Experts have urged the government to devise a comprehensive waste management solution that would include more recycling and composting to reduce the amount of trash going into landfills.

But so far there has been no evidence of such a plan, and there is already opposition to temporary solutions proposed by the government.

Y.R.

M.T.


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