Salam and Menassa clash in parliament over amnesty law
A heated argument and shouting match were reported Tuesday between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Defense Minister Michel Menassa, after the premier reportedly insisted on preventing the minister from delivering a speech in parliament regarding the general amnesty bill.
The disagreement prompted Menassa to leave the session.
MTV reported that the spat stemmed from Menassa’s desire to deliver a speech expressing “the Lebanese Army's position,” while Salam maintained that the Prime Minister is the one who should express the government's stance.
Sources from the Free Patriotic Movement-led Strong Lebanon bloc meanwhile confirmed to LBCI TV that the bloc completely rejects preventing Menassa from expressing his opinion, emphasizing that "we will not accept such a precedent, and therefore we will take an escalatory stance if the insistence on this 'ban' persists.”
“We will not allow such an attack on a minister, especially since he represents the Lebanese Army's position," the sources added.
Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab meanwhile told LBCI that the session was adjourned to “resolve the dispute between the Prime Minister and Defense Minister Michel Menassa,” noting that Speaker Nabih Berri was meeting with Salam to follow up on this matter.
MP Jamil al-Sayyed meanwhile revealed in a press conference in parliament that there was a majority in favor of voting on the proposed general amnesty law, while warning that Salam “took a step that could affect this.”
He noted that Menassa had expressed an opinion on the matter, but Salam removed him from the session and told him he was not allowed to enter.
"Salam told Menassa that if the law wasn't passed, he was putting the Lebanese army in confrontation with the Sunni community," al-Sayyed said.
He added that Menassa was deeply affected by the Prime Minister's tone to the extent of “actual crying.”
"I served in the Lebanese Army for 40 years; I don't distinguish between Muslims and Christians. You're accusing me of something that won't affect the vote if I express a particular opinion," Menassa said, according to al-Sayyed.
NBN TV meanwhile reported that Berri was communicating with Menassa to calm the atmosphere before the legislative session resumes at 6:00 pm.
Source: Naharnet
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