Berri: FPM Ministers Wise Enough not to Resign from Cabinet

Speaker Nabih Berri expressed certainty on Saturday that ministers of the Free Patriotic Movement will not resign from the cabinet because they are “wise enough” to realize that the country is passing through a critical stage that requires preserving the government, al-Akhbar daily reported.

“The FPM (ministers) have not lost their wisdom to the point of resigning from the cabinet. They are still aware of the seriousness of the current stage and the need to preserve the government,” Berri told the daily in an interview.

“When I prevent the fall of the government and support its survival, I would be protecting the FPM from themselves and protecting Lebanon in light of the difficult regional circumstances,” he added.

Berri pointed out that the FPM will reap no benefits from boycotting the cabinet sessions.

Ministers of the FPM boycotted the latest cabinet meeting linking their move to the thorny issue of military appointments.

Last week, Defense Minister Samir Moqbel postponed the retirement of Higher Defense Council chief Maj. Gen. Mohammed Kheir after no consensus was reached over three candidates that he had proposed, angering the FPM which says that it opposes term extensions for all senior officers.

The movement fears that the extension of Kheir's term could pave the way for a new extension of the tenure of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji next month.

Qahwaji's retirement had been postponed in September 2013 and his term was instead extended for two years.

“Extending the term of Qahwaji seems to be sole the option for all political blocs, including Hizbullah…had the appointment of a successor been possible, Hizbullah would have supported its ally, Aoun, in appointing an alternative. As long as appointing an substitute is not possible, then Hizbullah will not trigger a problem in the country in vain,” added Berri.

“We have done what we can to respect the FPM…in light of the insistence of Prime Minster Tammam Salam to hold the meeting and the counter demands of the FPM to postpone it, the government has therefore refrained from discussing controversial issues,” although there are a number of important issues that should have been discussed.