Suleiman: Not Obliged to Sign, Strikes Govern the Scene
The Easter vacation closed its doors Monday opening the track for a condensed week with hot topics.
On Tuesday, the parliament is to launch the opening of a three-day general session to debate the government's performance.
In parallel, early discussions governed the political circles on the electoral law as a series of strikes appear to breach the spring calmness.
No Vote of Confidence
As the opposition MPs gear up to launch blistering verbal attacks on the government during the parliamentary session, Lebanese dailies ruled out the possibility of voting confidence on Prime Minister Najib Mikati's cabinet.
According to "as-Safir" Lebanese daily, House Speaker Nabih Berri's circles ruled out a vote of confidence, as the Head of the "National Struggle Front" MP Walid Jumblatt stressed that "the subject of a confidence vote is out of the question."
"We have spent between 6 or 7 months to reach an agreement on the electricity generating ships, let's go to the electricity that must be the priority," Jumblatt confirmed to "as-Safir".
The MP further assured that "a confidence vote on the government is not on the table and we have nothing to do with this matter."
This came as "al-Akhbar" newspaper quoted sources close to Jumblatt saying that "members of his "NSF" would vote in favor of any minister who might be subjected to a confidence vote."
It also mentioned that "a meeting was held Sunday night between the Public Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, Energy Minister Gebran Bassil, the political aide to the Secretary General of Hizbullah Hussein Khalil, the Advisor of President Nabih Berri Ahmad Baalbaki, and the Hizbullah Liaison and Coordination Unit Official Wafik Safa , for coordination between the three parties, including that in the parliamentary session."
For his part, PM Mikati viewed that "the parliamentary session is normal and reflects
a healthy political system and a democratic life."
In an interview with several Lebanese newspapers, Mikati announced that "he is ready for all possibilities at the session," pointing out that "the government is ready for all complaints and criticism."
"If the opposition seeks a confidence vote, so let it be," he said clarifying that his "government is fully aware to listen to the MPs comments."
On the stand still spending draft law, the PM assured that "the salaries of the employees working in the public sector will be paid," adding that "the financial situation in the country is good."
Suleiman: Not Obliged to Sign
In this context, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman stressed that "he is not obliged to sign the project of $ 8900 billion liras expenditure," adding that "the decision is up to him to find out the suitability of the draft law with public order."
In remarks to "as-Safir", Suleiman wondered: "How can some people ask me to sign in sake of political calculations that are unrelated to financial regularity. How do they ask me to use my authority here, and they deny my right in naming the Head of Judiciary authority?"
For his part, Speaker Berri informed "an-Nahar" daily that "he did not send a letter to President Michel Suleiman regarding the proposal to legalize 8.9 trillion LL in-extra budgetary expenditures."
"During my latest meeting with the president at the Baabda Presidential Palace we did not touch on this issue at all."
Berri Launches New Initiative
On the electoral law front, "as-Safir" learned that "Berri has launched an initiative for the adoption of a draft-law on the parliamentary elections that would relief all parties."
"The initiative is based on considering Lebanon a single electoral district, what might appease both former PM Saad Hariri and head of "NSF" Walid Jumblat who have rejected proportionality," the paper added.
It further explained that "Berri's initiative lies in carrying out the polls in 2013 on the basis of a single electoral district through a proportional representation to form a parliament that would preserve the rights of sects and shares while limiting the high-level of sectarianism."
"The parliamentary elections will be followed by the formation of a senate as stipulated by the Taif Accord although this would undermine the parliament's authority " "as-Safir" added.
"The initiative can find common grounds with Jumblatt whom the opposition "March 14" forces are seeking to throw out of the parliamentary majority," Berri told the daily.
More Strikes...
Amid all these discussions, the country seems heading towards a new wave of strikes and demands' movements in different sectors.
Public school elementary teachers are to begin Tuesday a strike for four days, in addition to a sit-in at noon next Friday in front of the government's house.
Similarly, full-time teachers in the Lebanese University are to held a similar strike Wednesday in front of the parliament.
However, the most pressuring strike is that announced by bakers who declared an open strike until the price of bread is changed.
Source: Lebanese newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
