Berri Requests Interior Ministry to Prepare for Parliamentary Polls, Voices Support for Army
Speaker Nabih Berri renewed on Wednesday his rejection of the extension of parliament's term for a second time, reported media outlets.
He instead requested that the Interior Ministry make the preparations to stage the parliamentary elections.
The speaker made his remarks during his weekly meeting with lawmakers at his Ain el-Tineh residence.
Commenting on the army's clashes with Islamists in the northeastern town of Arsal, Berri stressed the need to support the army during this phase.
“Bolstering security is one of the main priorities during this phase,” he added before lawmakers.
Berri had stated in June that the parliamentary elections should take place as scheduled even if a new president was not elected and MPs failed to agree on a new electoral law.
He also rejected the extension of parliament's term, which was extended last year to November 20, 2014.
The 17-month extension, which took place in May 2013, came after the rival parliamentary blocs failed to reach an agreement on a new electoral law.
Berri had said that he would support holding the polls based on the controversial 1960 law if a new law was not approved by November.
The 1960 law adopts the qada as an electoral district and is based on the winner-takes-all system.
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