Berri Says to Focus on Approving State Budget, New Electoral Law
Speaker Nabih Berri said on Tuesday that forming the cabinet reflects well on the overall situation in the country and added that the political parties must focus now on approving the state budget and devising a new electoral law, al-Joumhouria daily reported Tuesday.
Berri expressed content with lining up the cabinet, he told the daily: “The country is the sole winner here. There are no winners or losers.”
To a question on whether the March 8 or March 14 alliance have triumphed in the formation of the new cabinet, Berri remarked: “How many times do we have to say that March 8 and March 14 no more exist. This is a government that must be embraced by all. Everyone must provide the needed cooperation and strength to help it carry out its duties.”
Berri said it would be better to hold the parliament's vote of confidence in the new cabinet between Christmas and the next new year “to focus with the beginning of the new year on the desired goals, that is the state budget and devising a new electoral law.”
The line-up of a 30-minister cabinet was announced on Sunday at the Baabda Palace, bringing together most of the political spectrum except for the Kataeb Party that refused to be represented by a state minister.
The cabinet was formed 45 days after the designation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri for the task.
The political parties have to either amend the current law or agree on a new electoral law ahead of the parliamentary elections that are scheduled for May 2017.
They are bickering over amending the current election law which divides seats among the different religious sects.
The current parliament has failed to amend the law, and has extended its mandate twice amid criticism.
Source: Naharnet
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://cdn.naharnet.com/stories/en/222391 |