Battle of Quorum in Parliament Decides Fate of Electricity Bill
The March 8 forces are working head over heels to guarantee a quorum of 65 MPs in a parliamentary session set to discuss the electricity project on Thursday, An Nahar daily reported.
The newspaper said that the opposition lawmakers are mulling to withdraw from the session to prevent the necessary quorum as an objection to the failure to approve the amendments that they are calling for to guarantee greater transparency in the implementation of the $1.2 billion plan.
MP Wael Abou Faour, who is a member of Walid Jumblat’s National Struggle Front, is in New York along with President Michel Suleiman as part of the ministerial delegation attending the General Assembly meeting.
Minister Mohammed al-Safadi, who is an MP from Premier Najib Miqati’s bloc, has headed to Washington. While MP Nehmeh Tohme, also from Jumblat’s bloc, is abroad.
Their absence might threaten the fate of the electricity bill in parliament on Thursday.
March 14-led opposition MPs are demanding that the draft law include several amendments but March 8 majority lawmakers are rejecting the changes, accusing March 14 of attempting to undermine the role of Energy Minister Jebran Bassil, who has proposed the electricity project.
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