Francophone MPs call for decentralization
Delegation tours Lebanon ahead of summit
The annual convention of French-speaking parliamentarians commenced in Nijmeh Square
Wednesday, with a focus on decentralization in Francophone nations as well as low voter
turn-out in elections.
During a five-day visit here, the Francophone Parliamentary Assembly’s Commission for
Parliamentary Affairs will develop recommendations for the organization’s member
countries.
Following a two-day tour of the country, the 24-member commission was greeted by Speaker
Nabih Berri who stressed the importance of decentralization.
Berri said that Lebanon might learn from the experiences “on that matter” from
other member countries, especially in light of the draft law on decentralization one of
the key decisions in the Taif Accord that has yet to be fully implemented.
Berri also reminded his audience of violations by Israel on the parliamentary level,
particularly the recent arrest of Palestinian Legislative Council member Marwan Barghouti.
Also at the opening session, Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh, who will head the next
Francophone Summit’s organizing committee, addressed an invitation for the commission
to attend the summit here in October.
“I promise that I will work to see that what took place in the past at other
Francophone summits will not be repeated, regarding the underestimation of the importance
of the participation of parliamentarians in the summit’s activities,” Salameh
said. “This is particularly important because you have expressed some reservations
about dealing with Francophone legislators during previous summits.”
The commission, headed by Pierre Debanne, a Lebanese-born Canadian, will convene again
Tuesday before issuing a list of recommendations. The visiting MPs toured the South Sunday
and are scheduled to visit the Bekaa valley this week.
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