Suleiman Rejects Non-Consensual Parliamentary Session, Prefers ‘Mobile Draft-Law’

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President Michel Suleiman has considered a move by Speaker Nabih Berri to hold a parliamentary session “non-consensual if a political team opposes it.”

His visitors told An Nahar daily published Thursday that the constitutional studies indicate that “mobile draft-laws” could be adopted and that “a cabinet session could also be constitutional to find a solution to pressing issues.”

They said Suleiman discussed with Speaker Nabih Berri about the so-called mobile draft-laws which mean that the decree is moved from one minister to the other for signature if a cabinet session was not held.

Berri did not take a stance from the issue, the visitors told the newspaper. The speaker is insisting on holding a parliamentary session on June 8 to extend the mandate of Central Bank Governor Riyad Salameh. But the March 14 forces are afraid to give parliament executive authorities and are suggesting resorting to mobile draft-laws.

Al-Mustaqbal daily quoted Baabda palace sources as saying that the idea of the draft-law making the rounds is under study by Suleiman who prefers to use it as a last resort if the cabinet was not formed or until the end of July when Salameh’s mandate expires.

Asked about the June 8 parliamentary session, the sources threw the ball in the court of Berri, saying “this issue is decided by the speaker.”

They added, however, that there was optimism about the formation of the new government within the coming weeks, a move that would allow the new cabinet to renew the mandate of the Central Bank governor.

Despite the reports about Suleiman’s preference to resort to the “mobile draft-law,” his visitors told As Safir that he has a tendency to accept a parliamentary session with a “tight agenda.”