Report: Berri ‘Forbids’ Obstructing Legislative Session Next Week

In light of the governmental gridlock all eyes turn to the legislative session that Speaker Nabih Berri has called for next week, amid concerns of a "lack of quorum or boycott," al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

All political parties have reportedly assured Berri they will attend the session, but information has been circulating in the past few hours about attempts to disrupt this meeting after the adoption of certain items on the agenda, according to the daily.

“A step of this kind challenges the Speaker who seeks to launch the legislative work of the council. He studied and approved a set of laws needed for the country, especially those related to the economic file and the oil file on which he relies on as an outlet for Lebanon from its economic crisis,” unnamed sources told the daily.

“If someone thinks of disrupting the Council, we advise him not to play this game. The quorum game is a disruptive one. It does not facilitate. I will be on the lookout for any such attempt,” stressed Berri in remarks he made to visitors.

“The Council is its own master, there are no impediments that it exercise its legislative role,” stressed Berri, adding “the train of legislation has been launched, and the legislative session set next week constitutes the beginning of several sessions in a row.”

In response to a question, Berri said: "The Council is not allowed to be disrupted. It is a major sin to have disruption in mind. It is plain ruin leaving the country without institutions, without a government and with the Council.”