Parliamentary Session Postponed Anew amid Ongoing Legislative Row

A controversial parliamentary session that includes 45 items on its agenda was postponed on Tuesday for the 10th time over lack of quorum.

Speaker Nabih Berri postponed the session without setting an upcoming date.

The session that is dedicated to tackling several controversial draft-laws has been a point of contention between Berri, the Free Patriotic Movement, the March 14 alliance and former Prime Minister Najib Miqati.

The Change and Reform bloc of Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun had boycotted the sessions over the speaker's failure to include in the agenda draft-laws proposed by the bloc.

However, the FPM Chief announced later on that his Change and Reform Bloc will attend session to ease tension.

Berri is insisting on keeping the 45 draft-laws on the agenda intact and had previously vowed to continue to call on MPs to a General Assembly meeting until the agenda is discussed.

Former Premier Miqati and March 14 alliance lawmakers have been boycotting the legislative sessions over claims that the parliament cannot convene under a resigned government.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam announced in February the formation of a 24-minister cabinet, ten months and a week after his appointment.