Tuesday Session Unlikely as Berri Sets New Conditions

A long-awaited parliamentary session was unlikely to take place on Tuesday after Speaker Nabih Berri has reportedly set new conditions on a draft petition for an amendment to the constitution to allow the election of Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman as president.

 

The daily An Nahar said the new obstacles “raised big suspicions” about the possibility that the session could be held on Tuesday. As Safir newspaper agreed, saying the session could be delayed until next Friday.

 

The new obstacle emerged after Berri conditioned that the constitutional amendment pass without going through the government, a move rejected by the ruling majority.

 

March 14 sources labeled Berri”s shift a “very big and serious attempt” by the opposition aimed at “twisting the majority”s arm.”

 

The sources accused the opposition of attempting to blackmail the majority over the presidential vacuum issue to “register a political victory.”

 

The NBN television station had quoted a high-ranking political source close to Berri as saying that the Speaker agrees to a suggestion made by former Speaker Hussein Husseini which allows parliamentary approval for the amendment without passing through the “illegitimate” government of Prime Minister Fouad Saniora as deemed by the opposition.

 

The sources said Husseini”s offer came in harmony with French statements as well as with Constitutional Council decisions, particularly Decree 2 of 1997 and Decree 4 of 1996.

 

Berri has blocked normal parliamentary sessions in the absence of six opposition ministers, with the assembly only meeting recently to try to agree on a constitutional amendment to allow Suleiman to assume the vacant presidency.

 

In light of Berri”s new terms, the majority MPs suspended their signature gathering.

 

A draft petition was handed over to Berri on Saturday by MP Robert Ghanem, head of parliament”s legal commission, and former Justice Minister Bahige Tabbara.