Berri on Upcoming Dialogue: It is a Real Chance to 'Lebanonize' Presidency
Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Wednesday the importance of dialogue to resolve pending disputes in Lebanon, saying that the presidential elections and a parliamentary electoral law are the primary issues that need to be discussed.
On his call for dialogue, he said: “It is a real chance to 'Lebanonize' internal affairs, especially the presidency.”
The dialogue may yield “zero or a hundred results,” he said during his weekly meeting with lawmakers at Ain el-Tineh.
The speaker recently called on parliamentary blocs to dialogue, which will kick off on September 9 and will be attended by more than 17 politicians, in addition to Prime Minister Tammam Salam.
Earlier, Berri defended Environment Minister Mohammed al-Mashnouq against demonstrators calling for his resignation, saying he is not corrupt.
According to As Safir daily published on Wednesday, Berri told his visitors that “al-Mashnouq is clean and is not corrupt.”
“Calls for his resignation are out of place,” said the speaker, describing al-Mashnouq's decision to suspend his participation in the ministerial committee tasked with resolving the waste crisis as a “bold move.”
Protesters are demanding al-Mashnouq's resignation over his failure to resolve the garbage crisis that erupted last month when the Naameh landfill was closed.
Following three huge protests over the past two weeks, the main group behind the protests known as "You Stink" gave the government a Tuesday deadline to begin responding to its demands, starting with the resignation of the environment minister.
He refused, resigning instead from the ministerial committee.
On Tuesday, a group of about 30 protesters from "You Stink" stormed the ministry. But security forces ejected the protesters, raising more tension over their campaign against the uncollected garbage and the stagnant political class.
Berri denied to his visitors that his call for dialogue among the leaders of parliamentary blocs came as a result of the anti-government protests.
“When someone sees dark clouds on the horizon, he could expect rain which either brings with it mud or good news,” said Berri, adding he called for the talks because he only forecasted mud.
G.K./M.T.
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