Hashem Defends Berri: Speaker Has Always Facilitated Bids to End Vacuum

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AMAL MP Qassem Hashem defended on Thursday Speaker Nabih Berri against claims that he is hindering the election of a president and stressed that the Speaker has always sought for ending the vacuum at the top Christian post.

“Speaker Berri has never sought-after disruption, he has always worked to find a solution that ends the vacuum at the level of the presidency,” said Qassem in an interview to VDL (93.3).

“All the allegations circulating in that regard are untrue. Since the term of president Michel Suleiman ended, Berri has been trying to find a solution to end the vacuum,” he added.

Pointing to the latest brushed war of words between Berri and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, over the so-called “package deal”, he said: “We have turned the page on the difference with Bkirki,” and reminded that Berri refuses to have political conflicts with anyone.

The relation between Bkirki and Ain el-Tineh had witnessed tensions in the past few days in the wake of al-Rahi's announcement on Sunday that any candidate who “has dignity” cannot accept the proposed package deal.

Al-Rahi's remarks drew a swift response from Berri, who said he has proposed a “package of ideas” whereas the patriarch had proposed a “package of candidates” in the past.

Berri's “package deal” has been also criticized by several Christian figures, including the leaders of the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces.

Berri had launched an initiative aimed at ending the presidential impasse. He called for shortening the term of parliament and holding parliamentary elections under the 1960 law should political forces fail to agree on a new law.

He also called for staging the presidential elections after the parliamentary ones and forming a national unity government.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 2
Thumb shab 06 October 2016, 17:40

loool

Thumb Southern...... 06 October 2016, 17:55

the one behind the screen name called @terrorist, is being hit by Rifi when gets angry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulSkMq-1yDQ