March 14 MPs break quorum over public finance, Aoun cries foul

March 14 MPs withdrew from the parliamentary session and negotiations are currently underway to resume the session. Speaker Nabih Berri postponed the session until March 5 after lack of quorum.

Exclusive sources told LBCI that MPs Sami Gemayel, Marwan Hamadeh and Georges Adwan will rejoin the session to give take the floor. They will later withdraw in protest against the legalization of the 8.9 trillion LBP credit without legalizing the former cabinet’s credits.

Following the lack of quorum, the Head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun said in a statement that public finance is in a state of chaos, accusing the other party [March 14] of refusing to provide the government with an account statement.

Aoun said that since 1993 all expenditures have not been registered, in reference to the controversial $11 billion that caused the parliamentary row.  “We are asking for a detailed account statement and I call on the voters to sack those who refuse to”, Aoun announced.

The Head of the Future bloc MP Fouad Siniora revealed that the state has remained without a budget plan for the past 10 years, adding that the proposed draft partially solves the issue of public spending. Siniora stressed that March 14 put forth a mechanism to solve the problem, adding that it is now in the hands of the auditing bureau and the parliament.

MP Ibrahim Kenaan highlighted the need to deal with all matters far from politicization and deals, refusing consensus at the expense of public funds and transparency. Kenaan accused March 14 MPs who withdrew from the session of wasting an opportunity for the state institutions to regain their vital role in line with the law.   

MP Georges Adwan said that March 14 is keen on holding the concerned authorities accountable for all breaches, even in legal matters. “We are looking forward for the parliamentary session on March 5 since it is high time to turn a new leaf so that institutions can operate within the law and public funds can be spent through a proper budget”, Adwan was quoted as saying.

Furthermore, MP Sami Gemayel voiced hope that the latest events in parliament would foster cooperation between political parties to overcome all obstacles. “Speaker Berri, PM Mikati and all parliamentary blocs should intensify their meeting to reach the desired purpose”, Gemayel said.

The parliament also approved of exempting red and green diesel oil from the Value Added Tax permanently. A parliamentary session kicked off on Thursday at 11:00 AM, chaired by Speaker of the House Nabih Berri, and in the presence of Prime Minister Najib Mikati and ministers.