Berri on Holding Legislative Session without LF, FPM: I am Choosing Lesser of Two Evils

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed the legality of the upcoming legislative session, despite the possibility that the Christian parties of the Lebanese Forces and Free Patriotic Movement may boycott it, reported As Safir newspaper on Monday.

He told the daily: “Given the choice between eating a dish that would make me sick and another that would kill me, I would choose the former.”

He explained that the absence of the LF and FPM from the session would not result in it not being held, because other Christian MPs are attending it.

If no Christians are present at the session, then it will not be legal, added the speaker.

The LF and FPM have not yet made up their mind about the boycott, while the Kataeb Party has repeatedly said that it would not attend the meeting in light of the ongoing presidential vacuum.

The legislative session is scheduled for November 12 and 13.

In addition, Berri criticized demands that the parliamentary electoral law should be included on the session's agenda, describing them as a “joke.”

“How can 17 draft electoral laws be included on the agenda? The session would be adjourned before it is even held,” he continued.

He voiced his rejection of such “deception.”

“How can we deal so lightly with such a vital law?” he wondered.

The LF and FPM have voiced their rejection to attending a legislative session that does not include the parliamentary electoral law.

Political parties had failed to approve an electoral law despite months of debate in 2013, resulting in lawmakers extending their term.

A similar dispute, coupled with other differences, resulted in parliament extending its term again in November 2014.

M.T.

D.A.