Yacoubian Disrupts Berri's Reelection by Voting for Labaki
First-time parliamentarian Paula Yacoubian, a journalist who is close to Prime Minister Saad Hariri but ran as a civil society candidate, made a scene at parliament on Wednesday by voting symbolically for prominent Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki for the parliament speaker post.
Yacouboian objected after Labaki's name was not read out during the counting of votes.
Yacoubian's vote was subsequently disqualified after it was initially counted as a blank ballot.
Parliamentarians had submitted anonymous paper ballots which were then read out loud. Speaker Nabih Berri's name was read 98 times, and "blank" was read 30 times. Under Lebanon's confessional-based political system, the position of parliament speaker is reserved for a Shiite Muslim. Candidates also have to be members of parliament.
Labaki won one of the top prizes at the Cannes film festival on Saturday. She is the first Arab woman to have won a major prize at the festival and only the second to have had a film competing for the Palme d'Or.
Lebanon witnessed controversy in the past few days after Hizbullah MP Nawwaf al-Moussawi and the journalist Manar Sabagh of Hizbullah's al-Manar TV downplayed and ridiculed Labaki's win in Twitter posts.
Hizbullah has distanced itself from the tweets, saying in a statement that they do not reflect the party's stance on cinema and arts.
Moussawi interrupted Yacouboian several times during her objecting remarks Wednesday in parliament.
almost 6 years
Nawwaf al-Moussawi is nothing but a neanderthal with an antediluvian brain just like most of his fellow bloc members. Yacouboian's paper should have been read out loud, just they read the names of the dead politicians that some FPM morons submitted during the first Presidential votes. Her paper was not read so not to offend the sensibilities of the neanderthals in attendance and their moped squad outside.
almost 6 years
I just watched the exchange between Paula and Nawwaf. Have you guys seen Nawwaf lately? Dude's forehead seem to have developed an ever expanding, darker, mini forehead of it's own. Nawwaf buddy, you are only suppose to bow down and put your head down slowly on the carpet or floor. Not knock knock knocking on heaven's door or send a message in Morse code with your head! Are you trying to dig a well with your head? It is not a sledgehammer.
almost 6 years
roflmao!!!!
almost 6 years
Voices of courage, like Yacobyan's, will not be silenced by the followers of a brutal 7th century ideology worsened more by the Khomeini doctrine.
These people can never be our partners in Lebanon because they do not believe in its identity but do hope for an Islamic Republic in Lebanon ruled by the Al Waly Al Faqeeh.
almost 6 years
Remember the killing machine. There is an armed group that will always undermine and use those weapons anytime feeling threatened. Bala disassociation bala batikh
Hizbullah MP Nawwaf al-Moussawi and the journalist Manar Sabagh of Hizbullah's al-Manar TV downplayed and ridiculed Labaki's win in Twitter posts.
Hizbullah has distanced itself from the tweets, saying in a statement that they do not reflect the party's stance on cinema and arts.
lol