Berri Seeks to Resolve Extra-Budgetary Spending Crisis
Speaker Nabih Berri considered on Wednesday that some constitutional authorities have been given to the head of state to resolve financial issues, hinting that President Michel Suleiman is refusing to use his jurisdictions to resolve the dispute over the $5.9 billion spending of 2011.
“The executive power should resolve the extra-budgetary spending dispute,” Berri told As Safir newspaper.
He pointed out that the parliament fully carried out its duties regarding the matter.
Berri revealed that he has a solution for the financial crisis, but he will only suggest it as a full package in order to resolve “all the thorny issues facing the cabinet.”
According to Ad-Diyar newspaper, the speaker “is ready to do whatever it takes” to resolve the dispute.
The March 8 forces and mainly the Free Patriotic Movement are stressing that the only solution lies in the President’s approval of the draft-law in accordance with article 58 of the constitution which allows the head of state to issue a bill deemed urgent by the government after the failure of the legislature to approve it.
But Suleiman backed by the ministers loyal to Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, who is a centrist, is rejecting such a move.
Meanwhile, a meeting that was held on Monday between Berri and Prime Minister Najib Miqati in Ain el-Tineh tackled the cabinet’s performance in general, As Safir newspaper reported.
According to the daily, Berri criticized the performance of the government, noting that it didn’t benefit from the renewal of confidence at the parliament as the previous disputes haven’t been resolved yet.
“You have to act responsibly and if you didn’t, I will not interfere anymore and I’d be forced to perform my tasks as the speaker of the parliament,” Berri told Miqati.
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