Centrist bloc prevents minority from obstructing majority’s rule
Minister of State Jean Ogassapian told Future News on Saturday that it was difficult to reach an agreement on the issue of the Council for South if demands to increase its budget remained.
He affirmed that all parties insisted that no new taxes be imposed, due to the dire economic situation and the people’s inability to afford further burdens.
He emphasized the importance of approving the 2009 draft budget “as it is” as soon as possible.
He expressed surprise regarding the minority’s campaign against the centrist bloc, which, he said might ensure democracy because the minority would not be able to prevent the majority from governing, as happened following the 2005 elections.
In a response to a question, Ogassapian said the Iranian-Egyptian disagreement was affecting Lebanon and concluded that raising the issue of the four Iranian diplomats, who were kidnapped in Beirut in 1982, increased domestic tensions that had been assuaged following the Doha Agreement.