Cabinet Likely to Convene this Week but Nahhas Should 1st Sign Transportation Decree

Cabinet sessions, which were suspended on Feb. 1, are likely to resume this week after President Michel Suleiman and Premier Najib Miqati reportedly agreed to call on the government to convene immediately after Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas signs a controversial transportation allowance decree.

Suleiman and Miqati, who met at Baabda palace on Monday, held onto their stance on the necessity for Nahhas to sign the decree “before anything else,” An Nahar daily reported.

It quoted sources as saying that the two leaders will make the necessary contacts to resume the government sessions as soon as Nahhas signs the decree.

Media reports have said that the minister would sign it on Tuesday after several weeks of wrangling.

Al-Mustaqbal daily quoted Baabda sources as saying that Suleiman “safeguards the implementation of the constitution and the authority of the council of ministers as an institution and the necessity of abiding by its decisions.”

The Baabda sources and another official source, who spoke to As Safir newspaper, said that the first cabinet session in more than three weeks of standstill could be held within a few days.

Al-Liwaa newspaper also quoted informed sources as saying that Suleiman and Miqati agreed not to call for any cabinet session before Nahhas signs the decree.

If the labor minister makes his good gesture, then Miqati would invite the ministers for a meeting on Thursday, they said.

Nahhas’ rejection to sign the decree linked to a wage hike decision made by the cabinet in January was at the center of the cabinet crisis that reached its climax on Feb. 1 when Miqati suspended the sessions after he wrangled with Free Patriotic Movement ministers over their criticism that the PM had named candidates for posts reserved for Christians in state institutions without consulting them.