Berri withdrew his electoral law proposal

Lebanon Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri withdrew his electoral law proposal during the electoral sub-committee’s meeting on Thursday after it was rejected by the Future Movement, National News Agency reported.

The mixed electoral law presented by Berri called for 50% of the parliament to be elected according to the Orthodox proposal and 50% according to according to the 1960 electoral law. (more…)

Lebanon: Reaction to Obama’s re-election

The top three Lebanese leaders congratulated on Wednesday president Barack Obama on his re election for another four years as the U.S. president.

President Michel Suleiman, said in a cable to Obama: (more…)

Aoun, Berri are at odds over 2 key issues

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun and Amal leader Speaker Nabih Berri are at odds over 2 key issues:
1 – Lowering the voting age from 21 to 18.
2 – Formation of a committee to study abolishing of political sectarianism.
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Berri came under attack from Aoun when he called last Friday for a Monday parliament session to vote on lowering the voting age to 18 .
Aoun on Friday indirectly criticized Berri by asking why there is a rush to lower the voting age from 21 to 18. Berri slammed Aoun in response later in the evening.
Berri is reportedly also mad at Aoun for changing his mind about the formation of a committee to study abolishing political sectarianism . According to Berri Aoun was positive on the issue during the parliamentary vote of confidence.
A meeting between FPM official MP Ibrahim Kenaan and Amal official MP Ali Hassan Khalil to resolve the differences was supposed to take place today but was reportedly canceled .
Kanaan told Al-Mustaqbal newspaper on Sunday: “There is a bit of a difference in the points of view between our parties .”
Similarly Khalil told Al-Mustaqbal newspaper on Sunday : The Free Patriotic Movement and Amal Movement have different points of view,.”
Hezbollah is reportedly trying to step in to reconcile his 2 key allies

Jumblatt defends Berri’s stances

In an interview with al Nahar newspaper Democratic Gathering leader MP Walid Jumblatt criticized attacks on Lebanon’s parliament Speaker Nabih Berri over his stance on abolishing political sectarianism.
“We feel sorry for the attack on Speaker Berri from all sides,” Jumblatt said.
Jumblatt added : “The attack is aimed at preventing participation in political life in a civilized manner”
Jumblatt also defended Berri’s call for a parliament session to amend article 21 of the constitution, by voting on lowering the voting age from 21 to 18.
Jumblatt said his Progressive Socialist party MPs are in favor of lowering the voting age to 18 .
“Historically, the Progressive Socialist Party has been with the lowering of the voting age to 18″ Jumblatt said
Jumblat added : “I Won’t Impose Anything on Democratic Gathering MPs but we are with Lowering Voting Age”. About half of the Democratic Gathering MPs are not PSP members.
Jumblatt left for London this afternoon on a private visit

Sectarianism, Municipal Elections And The Voting Age

By Ghassan Karam
It is paradoxical when the response to an effort to eliminate sectarianism is voiced in sectarian terms.

Amal, FPM reps to meet Sunday

Al-Manar television reported on Saturday that Amal and FPM representatives would meet Sunday to coordinate their positions following the recent tension between FPM leader MP Michel Aoun and Amal leader Speaker Nabih Berri.
Aoun on Friday indirectly criticized Berri by asking why there is a rush to lower the voting age from 21 to 18. Berri slammed Aoun in response later in the evening.
Aoun questioned the timing of the parliamentary session to reduce the voting age noting that “there is a proposal to restore the citizenship which was approved by the concerned committees last April and yet the parliament did nothing about it . He wondered: “Why the rush to approve one and to defer the other “? Berri slammed Aoun for his remarks later in the evening and said Aoun obviously does not want municipal elections now
According to local reports Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah may intervene and hold a meeting with Aoun and Berri later today

Parliament to meet Monday to lower voting age to 18

Lebanon’s Speaker Nabih Berri called for the parliamentary legislative session to meet Monday to amend Article 21 of the constitution to lower voting age from 21 to 18 for the upcoming Lebanese municipal elections, which are scheduled to take place in May
Berri said the session will also discuss electing members to the Higher Council for Trying Presidents and Ministers.

Minister Harb calls for the abolishment of sectarian politics

Labor Minister Boutros Harb told the Voice of Lebanon radio station on Thursday that he requested President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Saad Hariri to launch a dialogue with Speaker Nabih Berri on his call to form a committee to eliminate political sectarianism. He said that such a discussion would help avoid domestic division.

As-Safir newspaper also reported on Thursday that Harb asked Berri before Wednesday’s cabinet session “to withdraw his proposal to forming a committee to abolish political sectarianism, because it is a contentious issue.”

Berri: Defense strategy won’t eliminate resistance’s weapons

Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told As-Safir newspaper that the parties calling for a national defense strategy in hopes for eliminating the Resistance’s ( Hezbollah’s) weapons are mistaken.
“Wrong he who believes the defense strategy is for disarmament,” Berri said
Berri expressed openness to any defensive strategy that calls for “cooperation and integration among the army, the people and the resistance.”
He commented on UN Security Council Resolution 1559, saying that he “has a surprise for all those who still believe in the validity of the resolution.” However, he did not elaborate any further.
1559 calls for disarming all militias and Palestinians outside camps

Berri: Resistance is an ultimate need as long as Lebanese territories are occupied

Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri who has just returned from Syria called in a speech on the occasion of launching the first and second volumes of the Encyclopedia of the Islamic world, for a unified stance on rejecting all kinds of normalization of ties with Israel and on increasing the support for the Palestinian people and their right in practicing all forms of resistance.
He saluted Syria’s and Iran’s complete support for Lebanon and the new Lebanese government. He said the resistance is an ultimate need which we will not abandon as long as there are occupied Lebanese territories.
The Shiite leader pointed out that “dialogue with Iran is the only way to reach solutions,” stressing “Iran’s right to nuclear energy,” and called for dialogue between “The Arab countries and Iran” to discuss all issues and concerns.”