Berri Enraged by Political Crisis, Says Vacuum Better than Extending Parliament's Term

Speaker Nabih Berri lashed out at rival parties on Saturday, warning that if the political arch-foes agreed to extend the legislatures term then he would agree to delay the parliamentary elections even if it leads to further vacuum at state institutions.

“We have reached a dead-end and we have only two solutions either to wait for a military coup (which will not happen) or staging the elections,” Berri said in comments published in An Nahar and al-Akhabr newspapers.

“I don't mind vacuum at the parliament if the polls weren't staged,” the speaker's visitors quoted him as saying.

The head of the AMAL movement has continuously called for the staging of timely polls despite the presidential vacuum.

According to al-Akhbar newspaper, Berri told his visitors that there is “no difference” between the current situation and vacuum, noting that “the parliament isn't convening to legislate.”

“I will not agree to extending the parliament's tenure unless there's a clear plan. I will not repeat past experiences,” the head of AMAL movement remarked.

Last year, the rival MPs extended their tenure until November 2014 after they failed to agree on a new electoral draft-law.

However, the current presidential vacuum, which is caused by a sharp rift between political arch-foes on the name of the successor of former president Michel Suleiman, whose tenure ended in May, threatens the fate of the parliament.

There are fears that the political crisis and vacancy at the presidency could lead to vacuum in the remaining political institutions.

“If Iraqis and Syrians carried out elections during war, then the Lebanese have no reason to extend the parliament's tenure,” Berri added.

Zahle MP Nicolas Fattoush proposed in August a draft-law for the extension by more than two years, citing security reasons.

On Thursday, the cabinet appointed the members of the committee that will oversee the upcoming parliamentary elections, naming ex-judge Nadim Abdul Malak as its head.

Media reports said that the Progressive Socialist Party and the March 14 MPs will submit their nominations, while Berri and his Development and Liberation parliamentary bloc had already submitted their candidacies for the polls last week.

Differences have loomed to the surface among the members of the March 14 coalition over holding the polls in light of the vacuum in the presidency.

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