The Parliament held on Wednesday a session under the chairmanship of Speaker Nabih Berri, where the members of parliament discussed the cabinet’s policy statement and voted to grant the government confidence.
In this regard,
Prime Minister Tammam Salam delivered a speech to open the session, whereby he stressed that the cabinet will take extraordinary measures to combat terrorism and will continue to bolster the capabilities of the Lebanese army and security forces.
"We will expedite the process of arming the Lebanese Armed Forces," Salam added.
For his part, former Prime Minister Najib Mikati noted that “the only way to protect Lebanon is by declaring Tripoli a demilitarized city, pointing out that the Saudi grant for the Lebanese army represents an Arab and international assistance to Lebanon. Mikati gave the cabinet the vote of confidence.
In turn,
MP Strida Geagea said the Lebanese Forces will not hurdle the work of this government, but at the same time the party will not give the cabinet a vote of confidence.
However, MP Robert Fadel gave the cabinet the vote of confidence, noting that “he does not expect miracles from the government but hoped that it will deal with the priorities.”
Change and Reform bloc
MP Ibrahim Kanaan noted that his bloc gave the cabinet a vote of confidence given that it is a consensus government, and said: "It was not based on the cabinet's policy statement".
MP Kanaan also stressed the need to pass a new parliamentary electoral law that secures fair representation and real partnership.
Future bloc
MP Ammar Houry stressed no party can eliminate the other, noting that he gave the cabinet a vote of confidence since it is a national unity cabinet.
Similarly, Future bloc MP Mohammad Qabbani gave the government a vote of confidence, recalling that among the cabinet’s prime duties is to follow up on the work of the national dialogue committee in order to approve a defense strategy and ensure the citizens’ safety.
Change and Reform bloc MP Neemtallah Abi Nasr gave the cabinet a vote of confidence, regretting at the same time that “the former governments have neglected very important issues such as immigration and the Lebanese diaspora.”
Member of the National Struggle Front Alaeddine Terro declared that his bloc grants the cabinet the vote of confidence, calling on the authorities to provide the Lebanese army and the security forces with political and financial support, and to establish refugee camps that fit in the humanitarian conditions in order to organize the Syria exodus.
For his part, MP Mouin Merehbi gave the government his vote of confidence, pointing out that he would have preferred that the policy statement includes the need to implement the UN resolution 1701 and to deploy international forces along the Lebanese borders in order to control the situation.
Member of the Kataeb party bloc MP Elie Marouni called for declaring all the Lebanese cities demilitarized zones, stressing the importance of the role of the Lebanese army in defending the safety and security of the country and the citizens.
In turn, MP Assem Araji called on the authorities to set up an urgent plan of action for emergencies, especially that the number of the Syrian refugees has exceeded the number of the locals. He hoped that the cabinet will assume its responsibilities, calling on it not to neglect the critical situation of the Bekaa.
This as MP Robert Ghanem granted the vote confidence for the cabinet, pointing out that the time has come for the government to kick off its work, deal with the priorities and prevent political void.
On the other hand, Lebanese Forces MP Elie Keyrouz refused to give the cabinet the vote of confidence, noting that an existential issue is threatening Lebanon and the Lebanese people regardless of their sectarian and political affiliation. The MP said that the policy statement has extended the crisis pertaining to the legalization of the possession of illegal weapons.
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