Bassil Criticizes Miqati over Unilateral Decision, Refuses to Return to Cabinet before ‘Restoring Balance’
Energy Minister Jebran Bassil slammed on Thursday the decision taken by Prime Minister Najib Miqati over the appointment of top civil servants in the state.
“We refuse to become part of those who consider what the PM demands is sacred and the cabinet should abide by it, especially regarding the appointments issue,” Bassil told An Nahar newspaper.
The cabinet witnessed a heated debate on Wednesday after sharp differences between Miqati and Free Patriotic Movement ministers on the names of the Higher Disciplinary Council and the government representative at this council.
He criticized Miqati, saying that the ministers of the Change and Reform bloc “will not go back to the cabinet until it (the cabinet) restores the balance” that the government and the political system should be based on.
“We are not undermining the authority of the premier but we refuse to be undermined as well,” Bassil said.
According to the minister, who is loyal to FPM leader MP Michel Aoun, the PM has the right to “suggest names” and “we have the right to agree or refuse.”
Bassil also told As Safir newspaper, that the PM suggested a candidate for the head of the Higher Disciplinary Council for the first time during Wednesday’s session at the Baabda Palace without discussing the issue with any of the members, contradicting the agreement that was reached between some of the cabinet members.
“If the PM has the right to suggest a name or more, abiding by the mechanism or not, it’s then our right to agree or refuse… that who is keen to maintain the constitution realizes that the decision is taken by the cabinet not only by its head,” Bassil stated.
He demanded Miqati to “stop blackmailing the Lebanese under the slogan of stability at a delicate stage regionally and internationally.’
Bassil, according to As Safir, urged the premier “to stop violating the jurisdictions of the cabinet in an attempt to achieve a popular support.”
President Michel Suleiman agreed to suspend the cabinet session under the premier’s request for the suspension “falls within the PM's Constitutional prerogatives, especially when there's quorum,” Miqati claimed.
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