Berri: No 'Under the Table' Deal on Parliament Extension

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Wednesday that there are no “under the table” deals regarding the controversial issue of extending the parliament’s term.

“We only work above the table,” said Berri during his weekly meeting with lawmakers.

He refused the “extension of the parliament’s term. We support the parliamentary elections and see some hope on the candidacies submitted in that regard.”

Berri pointed to some positive indicators that could herald an agreement among political blocs to hold a legislative session.

The legislative session should address a number of pressing economic and financial issues including the controversial wage scale, the salaries of the public sector employees, the fiscal budget and issuing Euro-bonds.

“We are discussing some serious matters and we hope to find a solution.”

A political settlement is likely to be reached between the country's rival leaders to resolve the paralysis of parliament after Berri said he reached an “initial understanding” with Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan to pass urgent draft-laws.

Parliament has been unable to legislate over the boycott of several blocs, including the March 14 alliance's lawmakers and Change and Reform MPs. The paralysis is linked to the presidential deadlock.

The majority of the March 8 alliance's MPs have been causing a lack of quorum in sessions aimed at electing a president, leaving the country without a head of state.

President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended in May.