Berri Reiterates Refusal of Parliament Extension
Speaker Nabih Berri reiterated on Friday that he will not agree with the proposed extension of the parliament’s mandate, pointing out the need to hold the presidential and parliamentary elections.
"The parliament is a legislative body and therefore obstructing its work violates the constitution,” said Berri in an interview to al-Mustaqbal newspaper.
“I will not agree on extending the parliament's term mainly if the situation in the country stayed the same,” he added.
“There are no guarantees,” the speaker said referring to the parliament's failure to convene and approve a number of pressing issues.
“What about obstructing legislation? It is a priority to hold the parliamentary elections.”
Lebanon will enter on August 20 a deadline to agree on a new electoral law ahead of the November elections.
Noting the latest parliament term extension, Berri said: “We extended the parliament’s term for one year and five months in order to approve a new electoral law and elect a new president, but we did neither. To the contrary, the parliament's work was obstructed.”
Last year, the parliament voted to extend its own mandate for 17 months after the rival political parties failed to reach a new electoral law.
"We have a number of pressing issues that need to be approved including the wage scale, the fate of 107,000 students at stake, issuing eurobonds, the rent law and many others.”
Berri concluded by saying that he held a meeting with former PM Saad Hariri, adding “I discussed this matter with him and agreed that holding the elections is a priority.”
D.A.
M.T.
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