Kanaan Says Majority Seeking Approval of his Draft Law as March 14 Rejects it

Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan confirmed reports that the parliamentary majority forces were seeking to garner majority support for a draft-law proposed by him to authorize the cabinet to set the transportation allowance.

The draft-law “is a solution and guarantees the (continued) work of the cabinet, Kanaan told An Nahar daily published Wednesday despite reports that Speaker Nabih Berri could withdraw the draft-law and another one drafted by opposition al-Mustaqbal MP Nabil de Freij from the agenda of the session if the resignation of Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas was not sent to Premier Najib Miqati ahead of the session.

Nahhas submitted his resignation to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun for refusing to sign the controversial transportation allowance decree. But the FPM chief said Tuesday that he will in his turn send the resignation to the cabinet whenever he wants.

As for de Freij, he told al-Liwaa newspaper that his draft law could receive the support of a certain number of MPs, including lawmakers from the majority March 8 forces and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat’s bloc.

He lamented however that if there was a political deal to support Kanaan’s draft law, then his proposal could collapse.

De Freij stressed that the labor minister should sign the transportation allowance decree before parliament discusses the two draft laws.

Sources from the opposition March 14 coalition also told An Nahar that its lawmakers will reject Kanaan’s draft law for allegedly failing to meet an agreement reached between owners of major companies and labor syndicates.

The daily quoted opposition MP Marwan Hamadeh as saying that parliament could not vote on either draft laws if the labor minister didn’t sign the decree.

Wednesday's session was adjourned to Thursday.