Parliament Session Kicks off as March 8, 14 are Expected to Rattle Sabers Over STL Clause

The March 8 and 14 forces are expected to rattle sabers at the parliament on Tuesday following a series of accusations between the two camps on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon that will try ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s suspected assassins.

The lawmakers of both sides are scheduled to confront each other head-on in parliament for three days during sessions aimed at discussing the cabinet’s policy statement, on which Premier Najib Miqati’s government will seek the legislature’s vote of confidence.

The session kicked off at 10:30 am with Miqati reading the policy statement.

The clause of the international tribunal in the ministerial statement has been behind the growing accusations between the March 8 pro-government forces and the March 14-led opposition which says the statement is a vague promise that Lebanon would respect international resolutions as long as they did not threaten the civil peace.

"The government confirms that it will follow the progress of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which was set up in principle to see justice served in a manner that is neither politicized nor vengeful, and as long as it does not negatively affect Lebanon's stability and civil peace," reads the clause.

The ambiguous wording has pushed March 14 to vow working to topple the government unless Miqati announces he will honor the tribunal in parliament on Tuesday.

But Miqati snapped back at the March 14 ultimatum on Monday, saying the opposition is launching a campaign based on fabrications to mislead the public opinion and turn it against the new government.

According to media reports, more than 50 lawmakers would make statements during the three-day sessions set by Speaker Nabih Berri although only 35 have requested to address the parliament.

Berri could extend the sessions till Friday if more MPs decide to make statements.

Parliamentary sources expected the cabinet to win the vote of confidence of 68 or 70 lawmakers.