Opposition Criticizes Berri over Parliamentary Committees

The March 14 alliance lashed out on Wednesday at Speaker Nabih Berri's decision to activate the work of the parliamentary committees, who said that the parliament will remain open despite the boycott of the opposition.

“Calling on the parliament's Administrative and Justice Committee to convene by its rapporteur MP Nawwar al-Saheli is not constitutional,” March 14 MP Robert Ghanem said in comments published in An Nahar newspaper.

Later, al-Saheli chaired the committee's meeting with the attendance of the March 8 lawmakers.

Berri told As Safir newspaper however that “it's not acceptable to obstruct the work of the legislative authority under any circumstances.”

He held the lawmakers who are not attending meetings of committees responsible for his decision.

On October 31, the speaker said that the parliamentary committee meetings will be held on time, tasking the rapporteurs of leading them over the boycott of several heads of committees who are members of the opposition.

However, al-Mustaqbal MP Hadi Hobeish considered that Berri's endeavor violates the parliament's rules of procedures.

The opposition decided to boycott parliamentary activities for security reasons following the recent assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau head Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hasan on October 19.

The March 14 camp accuses the cabinet of Prime Minister Najib Miqati of failing to ensure stability and security and is thus demanding its resignation.

Several March 14 officials have recently received death threats from a Syrian telephone number.