Berri says lack of quorum ‘saved Lebanon’

House Speaker Nabih Berri considered that the lack of quorum during Tuesday’s Constitutional Council’s session “saved Lebanon”.      

He spoke in reference to the pressure being exerted on council members in terms of the decision making process with regards to approving or passing the appeals to annul the extension of the parliaments mandate.                  

In further comments made during the Wednesday periodic meeting, Berri expressed his concern with the effect caused by the electoral file in the country, "which is leading Lebanon towards internal strife;" warning of the executive power’s interference in the affairs of the legislative board.                         

The Constitutional Council was three council members shy of a quorum to discuss the report on both Tuesday and Wednesday prepared by the Council's head Judge Issam Sleiman in regards to the two appeals submitted by President Michel Sleiman and the Change and Reform bloc against the extension of parliament's mandate.                 

On Friday the 31st of May, 97 parliamentarians ratified a law to extend the current parliament's mandate until the 20th of November 2014.                      

The session was held amid the discontent of several civil society groups who gathered before Nejmeh Square pelting lawmakers with tomatoes in protest of the decision.              

The Free Patriotic Movement boycotted the session, announcing that they would file an appeal to the Constitutional Council.      

Similarly, President Michel Sleiman also vowed to fight the said law, citing its unconstitutionality as the main reason behind his move.