Parliamentary Session Postponed for Fourth Time

A parliamentary session dedicated to tackling a number of draft-laws was postponed on Tuesday over a lack of quorum.

MTV reported that the session was automatically postponed after Speaker Nabih Berri did not even attend the meeting.

This is the fourth postponement of the session and the fifth session will be held on September 23 with the same agenda.

The pan-Arab daily al-Hayat had reported on Monday that the speaker was likely to postpone the two-day session in order to avoid further tensions in Lebanon in light of the ongoing political disputes and security unrest.

The session was postponed for a third time on July 29 over a lack of quorum.

Several parliamentary blocks boycotted the parliamentary session over a dispute with the speaker over its agenda, which included 45 articles.

Berri insists on keeping the 45 draft-laws on the agenda intact and had previously vowed to continue to call on MPs to a General Assembly meeting until the agenda is discussed.

Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati argues that there is no balance between the powers of the legislative and executive branches amid a resigned government.

Miqati and the March 14 alliance say that the agenda's articles should be limited to one draft-law, which is extending Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji's mandate.

Qahwaji's term ends in September when he turns 60.