Salam Invites Cabinet to Convene Thursday despite Lack of Progress on Deadlock
Prime Minister Tammam Salam called on the cabinet to convene on Thursday after a three-week suspension of sessions over the dispute on security appointments.
Salam made the announcement in a terse statement he issued on Monday after local dailies quoted him as saying that he will continue his consultations with the representatives of political parties this week.
He stressed, however, that he will not give up the authorities granted to him by the constitution in the absence of a president.
“This week will not pass without a decision,” Salam told his visitors. “The country can no longer tolerate paralysis.”
The PM suspended cabinet sessions three weeks ago after Free Patriotic Movement ministers said they would boycott any session that does not have the appointment of high-ranking security and military officials on its agenda.
The reports said Salam informed Speaker Nabih Berri during a meeting they held on Saturday that he would invite for a session before Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan next month.
Berri was also quoted by the newspapers as saying that he discussed with Salam several issues, mainly the cabinet paralysis.
“Whether you invite for a session tomorrow, after a week, at the end of Ramadan or after a month or two, then the ministers representing me will attend,” the speaker reportedly told the PM.
About calls for holding three sessions to discuss the state budget, the agenda and the appointments, Berri said: “Some are dealing with the constitution as a Ramadan meal that starts with soup and ends with dessert.”
The speaker also said there is a possibility of holding an extraordinary parliamentary session if 13 ministers sign a special decree.
G.K.
D.A.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://cdn.naharnet.com/stories/en/183366 |