Change and Reform Bloc: FPM's Participation in Cabinet Session Not to be Taken for Granted

Change and Reform parliamentary bloc sources said on Friday that the partial participation of ministers of the Free Patriotic Movement in Thursday's cabinet session must not be taken for granted, and that the movement will assess its participation in the meeting each time the cabinet convenes, al-Akhbar daily said on Friday.

“The partial participation in yesterday’s cabinet meeting does not mean a blank cheque. Our decision to participate in the cabinet meeting will be assessed each time the cabinet convenes,” Change and Reform sources told the daily.

“Similarly it does not mean that the FPM ministers will return to the dialogue sessions, or to the parliament without a new electoral law,” they added.

FPM Minister of Education Elias Bou Saab attended the cabinet meeting on Thursday after speculations that the movement would continue to boycott the sessions.

But head of the FPM Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil decided not to attend.

In August, the Free Patriotic Movement decided to boycott the cabinet meetings, the parliamentary sessions and the national dialogue sessions over the extension of senior military posts.

The sources pointed out that the occasion on October 13 will be an ordinary celebration, while the one on October 16 may become the beginning of a new move to escalate measures.