Caretaker cabinet convenes in second FPM-boycotted session

The caretaker cabinet convened Wednesday for the second time at the Grand Serail to discuss the electricity file and other items.

Minister of Tourism Walid Nassar attended the session despite a decision by the Free Patriotic Movement to boycott any caretaker cabinet session.

Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Manager at Electricité du Liban Kamal Hayek also attended the session.

Last month, a two-thirds quorum was secured for the caretaker cabinet's first session by caretaker Industry Minister George Boujikian of the FPM-allied Tashnag Party. Boujikian attended although he had participated in a statement declaring the boycott of that session. The statement carried the names of the caretaker ministers of foreign affairs, justice, defense, economy, social affairs, energy, tourism, industry and the displaced.

Economy Minister Amin Salam arrived Wednesday at the Grand Serail, and said he will participate in today's session because he considered the electricity file to be an emergency.

He did not attend the last session that caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati had described as an emergency meeting. It included a decree related to medical services offered to cancer and dialysis patients.

The FPM has repeatedly warned against holding cabinet sessions amid the ongoing presidential vacuum, labeling such a move as an attack on the president’s powers.

"People's demands can not depend on someone's moodiness or political bets," Mikati said at the beginning of the meeting.

Eighteen ministers, including Mikati, attended the session.