The session opened with a heated dispute between PM Tammam Salam and Foreign Affairs Minister Gebran Bassil ahead of the cabinet session. Photographers were kicked out of the session following the argument that erupted between the two concerning the interpretations of the constitution.
Also, the Grand Serail banned any live coverage of today's session. Journalists were escorted outside and were prevented from reporting ministers' statements. Prior to the session, Minister of the Displaced Alice Shabtini voiced hopes that Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun would not resort to the streets to resolve the country’s pending issues. For his part, Information Minister Ramzi Jreij commended the street protests saying "the election of a new president is vital in comparison to the filling a vacant position." Meanwhile, Minister Bassil arrived at the Grand Serail with a copy of the constitution. “I am demonstrating today using the constitution,” he stressed.
However, Minister of Telecommunication Boutros Harb responded to Bassil, saying that he should “read the constitution before demonstrating for it.”
In turn, Labor Minister Sejaan Qazzi said that “today's cabinet session will be a regular one.” Controversy surrounds Thursday’s cabinet session, with the Free Patriotic Movement calling for nationwide protests to be staged in parallel with the session. The FPM has been pushing for the cabinet to discuss the appointment of high-ranking military and security officials, but last week, the ministers failed to tackle the issue, widening the gap between the different parties.