Berri: No government for the Opposition in Return for Consensus on New President
| Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced Friday that the Hizbullah-led opposition is ready to give up its demand for the formation of a new government with veto powers in return for consensus on a new president. Berri made the offer in a mass rally at the Bekaa valley town of Baalbek marking the 29th anniversary of the disappearance of Shiite religious leader Mousa al-Sadre during a visit to Libya. “Let us all agree on electing a president on the base of consensus and a two-third quorum for the Parliamentary session that would elect the head of state,” Berri said. In return for that, he declared, “The opposition would not want the formation of (a new government) or the expansion of the present government prior to the Presidential elections.” After agreeing on the “principle” of his proposal, Berri said he would be committed to “launching consultations with all the sides to agree on the name of the forthcoming president.” “The more we speed up the consensus approach the better. The sooner the better to end the sit-in (In Riyadh Solh Square), keep the turmoil away and avoid evil that hangs over the last 10 days” of the constitutional schedule to elect a new head of state,” Berri said. “I am confident that we will reach consensus during the constitutional schedule on a president,” Berri added. More details soon. |
| Beirut, 31 Aug 07 |
