Parliament Session Postponed Again After Lack of Quorum Over Controversial Topics
Speaker Nabih Berri adjourned the parliamentary session for lack of quorum and insisted the legislature will discuss on April 7 the same topics that were on Thursday”s agenda.
"Every time there is no quorum, a new session will be scheduled and I won”t add any new draft laws to the agenda," Berri warned.
Last week, parliament unanimously approved a draft law to lower the voting age to 18. But the session was later postponed due to lack of quorum to discuss other controversial items on the agenda.
Thursday”s session came to a close before discussing the controversial topics of eliminating taxes on gas, meeting the demands of teachers and Lebanese University professors, bringing heads-of-state and ministers to trial and a draft law to grant a general amnesty for crimes committed before April 27, 2005.
Future Movement MPs also objected to a draft law on disabled people”s rights. MP Samir al-Jisr said the proposal was within cabinet”s authority, not parliament.
Premier Fouad Saniora said in parliament that cabinet will pay salary and pay-grade differences bi-annually on an installment basis. The first payment will probably be made prior to the legislative elections, he said.
After the session, Saniora criticized demands by some MPs to eliminate gas taxes, saying any such move would put burdens on the treasury.
MPs previously approved a draft law allowing cabinet the right to legislate in matters relating to the customs code.
Parliament also gave the green light for cabinet to issue treasury bonds in hard currencies amounting to $200 million to pay entrepreneurs.