Mikati Slams Sectarian Rhetoric, Progress in Salaries Scale
As the Lebanese government moved from the square of crisis to that of achievements, masks started to fall.
Those who once called for an electoral law based on proportionality appeared to be against it. This comes as the electoral law is to take its way to the parliament.
Meanwhile, the government succeeded in overpassing the crises of both Electricité Du Liban contract workers and salaries scale.
Mikati Responds To March Campaign
Prime Minister Najib Mikati slammed March 14 and particularly Future Party's campaign on the government's unprecedented achievement.
Mikati described the campaign as "unjustified and incomprehensible" given that it hasn't been put into effect yet.
"Future Movement's violent reaction to the government's adoption of proportionality with 13 electoral constituencies is unjustified and not understandable, since the draft has yet to come into force."
In an interview with "as-Safir" Lebanese daily, he said "the electoral draft law resembles the start of a democratic debate."
"However, this debate is to be settled by the parliament, which is supposed to choose the right option," he added.
Mikati further confirmed that " there is no need for all this fuss."
The PM said that he is committed to the ministerial statement. "The parliament is responsible for the rest as those who reject the draft law must provide the required majority to change it."
"They became hysterical only because this government adopted an electoral draft law," he said and noted that "they are sensitive towards any governmental achievement . "According to Mikati, "All what they seek is to make me resign and to replace our government with a caretaking one."
"Whoever adopts the sectarian claims that this draft law is to give power to Shiite over Sunnis doesn't understand the real meaning of proportionality," Mikati emphasized.
The PM hailed "the government's social achievement by announcing the end of the first stage of the program aiming to support the poorest households."
March 14 Join Jumblatt's Plan, Suleiman: What Do They Want?
This came as March 14 forces prepare to overthrow this draft law in the parliament by cooperating with head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt.
For his part, President Michel Suleiman wondered in front of his visitors if "the objections are against the principle of proportionality or over the distribution of electoral constituencies?"
"Suleiman is totally convinced of proportionality, which started with the Fouad Boutros committee and was continued by former PM Fouad Siniora who had said that Boutros' draft is ours as well," "an-Nahar" daily quoted Suleiman as saying.
In parallel, "as-Safir" revealed that the parliament's General Secretariat returned a copy of the draft budget, which was adopted by the government, as it reached House Speaker Nabih Berri's office in an inappropriate manner.
Informed sources reported that Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi had sent Speaker Berri a copy to inquire about his opinion on it and that the latter returned it pending the reception of a decree duly signed by the president
On another level, the issue of the 11 Lebanese hostages in Syria is back to the political forefront after the media one.
Gov't Follows Hostages, Livelihood Issues
During Wednesday's governmental session, PM Mikati emphasized that "the Lebanese state through the presidency and prime ministry is making all the efforts needed to initiate contacts and follow up on the issue of the Lebanese hostages."
Meanwhile, "al-Akhbar" daily reported that "a ministerial committee tasked with resolving the pay and salaries scale issue finalized its work Wednesday."
In remarks to the same daily, State Minister Panos Manjenian predicted that "the pay scale is likely to be approved by the end of August."
Source: Lebanese dailies, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
