Khalil, FPM Ministers in New War of Words over Electricity

A new war of words has erupted between the ministers of the AMAL Movement and the Free Patriotic Movement.

The trading of barbs started overnight, when FPM chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil accused Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil of blocking the construction of the Deir Amar power plant.

“We did everything needed to provide 24/24 power supply by 2015, but a political group obstructed the project, especially Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, who blocked funds needed to construct the Deir Amar plant,” Bassil said in a TV program aired by MTV.

Khalil hit back on Monday, saying: “I'm proud of blocking this project, because it contains an attempt at theft, public funds waste and corruption.”

Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil of the FPM snapped back in a tweet, accusing Khalil of “falsifying the facts.”