Berri Says Wage Scale 'Key' to Holding Parliamentary Sessions

Speaker Nabih Berri revealed that rival MPs had made progress in agreeing on the public sector wage scale, which he described as the “key” to holding legislative sessions.

Berri spoke to his visitors about the efforts exerted by his aide Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan to approve the raise.

There has been an initial agreement to raise the Value Added Tax by 1 percent and make the payment in installments over the span of two years.

Berri said the controversial raise is “the key to holding parliamentary sessions.”

The MPs have been unable to agree on the wage scale over their differences on ways to fund it.

News about the activation of the National Assembly's role began appearing last week after Adwan led political efforts to hold legislative sessions on important issues.

The March 14 alliance's MPs in addition to the March 8's Change and Reform bloc have been boycotting the sessions, claiming that parliament should not legislate in the absence of a president.

Berri denied that the failure to elect a head of state was the result of foreign intervention.

“The main obstacle to the election of a president is Lebanese. But I am afraid that it now needs foreign intervention,” he told his visitors.

Baabda Palace has been vacant since May 25 when President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended over the failure of the rival MPs to agree on a compromise candidate.

Berri told MPs on Wednesday that the extension of parliament's term is not linked to the legislative session.

He reiterated his call on holding the parliamentary elections rather than extending the legislature's term for the second time.