- Electricity
issue can be tackled under a calm and peaceful atmosphere
As-Safir
daily quoted sources close to National Struggle Front Leader MP Walid Jumblatt
Thursday as saying that the electricity issue can be tackled under a calm and
peaceful atmosphere and according to administrative and technical standards.
“Jumblatt’s
opposition to the electricity plan is not based on political grounds,” the
sources said, adding the latter is only keen ton seeing this huge sum of money
be spent properly to revive the electricity sector.
“Jumblatt
also opposed the electricity plan during the mandate of Former PM Rafik Hariri,
which proves that his stance does not target Change and Reform Bloc Leader MP
Michel Aoun or anyone else in particular.”
The
Cabinet failed to reach an agreement Wednesday on a draft law proposed by
Change and Reform bloc Leader MP Michel Aoun, which would allocate to Energy
Minister Gebran Bassil $ 1.2 billion to build power plants, increasing
Lebanon’s electricity production by 700 MW.
The
Cabinet session is set to reconvene on Sept. 7 following Eid al-Fitr.
- Bassil displayed ins and outs
of the electricity plan: Kortbawi
Al-Mustaqbal
daily quoted Justice Minister Chakib Kortbawi Thursday as saying that Energy
Minister Gebran Bassil has displayed the ins and outs of the electricity plan
during all relevant Cabinet sessions, adding the plan will be carried out
according to the Lebanese laws.
“The
electricity draft law is an emergency plan drafted by the Cabinet of former
Prime Minister Saad Hariri,” Kortbawi said, adding it is illegal to put the
Spending Clause in the hands of the government instead of the Minister himself.
- Sleiman and Mikati reach
deadlock
An-Nahar
daily quoted ministerial sources Thursday as saying that President Michel
Sleiman and PM Najib Mikati have almost reached a deadlock after Change and
Reform Bloc MP Michel Aoun and National Struggle Front Leader MP Walid Jumblatt
both seemed obstinate in their positions, shaking up the existing political
alliance.
“It is
not permissible for the government to collapse over the electricity plan,
regardless of its importance, while it managed so far to cope with the ordeal
of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)”, ministers said.
- We will not become “false
witnesses”: Layoun
Al-Joumhouria
daily quoted Culture Minister Gaby Layoun Wednesday as saying that Change and
Reform MPs should not become “false witnesses”.
Referencing
the STL false witnesses’ scandal that brought down the Hariri Cabinet less than
a year ago, Layoun pondered whether obstinance over the electricity draft law
would bring the current Cabinet to a similar fate.
“A
Cabinet that does not approve a vital issue is selling the public short,”Layoun
said, adding such Cabinet will collapse at the political level if it fails to
meet the people’s demands.
- Cabinet likely to collapse at
any moment warns Houri
Al-Liwaa
daily quoted the Future Bloc MP Ammar Houri on Thursday as saying that “Change
and Reform Bloc MP Michel Aoun wants to manipulate the Cabinet whose survival
is at stake and is likely to collapse at any moment.”
“The
March 8 alliance is facing many challenges and has the responsibility to bring
the Lebanese through the crises besieging Lebanon.”
“The
electricity plan proposed by Energy Minister Gebran Bassil lacks rationality
and logic”, Houri said, adding Bassil’s draft law contravenes the Electricity
Law and the plan drafted by the previous Cabinet.
“The
opposition MPs will close ranks to oppose Bassil’s plan during the legislative
session for it lacks transparency,” Houri said. “The ultimatum made by Aoun and
his supporters raises questions around their determination to be granted access
to $ 1.2 billion at any cost.”