Mikati tackles Tripoli's situation, outcome of parliamentary discussions

Caretaker Prime Minister Naijib Mikati called on Monday LAF Chief General Jean Kahwaji who informed him of the measures taken by the army in Tripoli in order to control the security situation.                

Mikati stressed that he fully supports the army in every step taken in order to put an end to the security chaos prevailing over the city, adding that the political authorities, the cabinet and Tripoli’s leaderships and official figures support the LAF in its mission to end the security events.         

Earlier, Mikati held a meeting at his residence in Tripoli with Caretaker Ministers Mohammad Safadi, Faisal Karami, and Ahmad Karami and deputies Bader Wannous, Samir Jisr, Robert Fadel, and Mohammad Kabbara.                          

The meeting was held in the framework of discussing the implemented measures in order to "maintain security and stability" in the city as well as means to develop the economy and complete the implementation of previously planned projects.             

On another note,  Mikati regretted on Monday the outcome of the parliamentary discussions, calling on politicians to admit that they failed to assume the responsibility of their duties. 

Speaking via Twitter, Mikati said that the country is now facing two options: political void or the extension of Parliament’s mandate. He pointed out that the Orthodox Gathering draft law has been dropped and the 1960 law cannot be readopted, “because the electoral supervisory committee stipulated by this law has not yet been formed.”                                   

In this context, he stressed the need for the parliamentary blocs to reach an agreement over a specific extension which would be safer than a “devastating constitutional void”.