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| Siniora accuses Berri of
usurping legislative power; Berri hits back BEIRUT, Lebanon - Prime Minister Fouad Siniora on Saturday accused House Speaker Nabih Berri of seizing power from Parliament, prompting the pro-opposition Speaker to counter attack. Siniora was retorting to a statement issued on Friday by the Parliament secretary general that said Berri decided to postpone Saturday's presidential election session to Jan. 12. Berri's statement insisted there was no need to amend the constitution to elect Gen. Michel Suleiman, citing Article 74 of the Lebanese constitution. According to Berri's statement, this stipulates that "in case of a presidential vacancy... parliament meets immediately to elect a new president, which excludes the (need for) amendment." "What is surprising is that the Parliament Speaker has taken this stance and adopted it which means that making interpretations of the constitution alone is dangerous without referring to the righteous party for interpretation, which is parliament's plenary session." "By doing so, Berri gave himself a role not assigned to him by the constitution, and this conduct is tantamount to seizure of parliament powers, and thus leads to toppling of the democratic system," Siniora said. Berri swiftly retorted, accusing Siniora of violating the law. A statement by his office said Berri did not interpret the constitution, "thus he did not seize any power, particularly that of the Parliament." Berri "is simply implementing the provisions of the constitution and the law exactly as Parliament's system empowers the speaker to do under Article 5 … this Article that had been ignored by the illegitimate cabinet." -Naharnet |
