127 deputies convened on Thursday 25-2009 at Nejmeh Square at 10.00am and re-elected MP Nabih Berri for a fifth (4-year-term) as parliament speaker by 90 votes out of 127. MP Farid Mkari was also re-elected Deputy Speaker for a second term.
13 political blocs and 11 independent MPs — took part in the vote on a Speaker, with the absence of MP Riad Rahhal.
Berri’s re-election was settled after intensive political contacts, particularly within March 14 Forces and future parliamentary bloc.Moreover, Lebanese Forces, Kataeb and some March 14 independent MPs mostly from the newly-formed Lebanon First Bloc have said that they will caste blank ballots rather than vote for Berri, the only candidate in the running.
Democratic Gathering bloc MP Marwan Hamadeh and Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra were elected parliament secretaries, while MPs Michel Moussa, Ahmed Fatfat and Serge Tor Sarkissian to the Office of Parliament.
The daily As Safir said that Future Leader MP Saad Hariri was Keen on re-electing Mr. Berri reminding the protestors within his bloc that he had paid a dear price for the May 7 events confirming that extending for Mr. Berri is to assure the coexistence in Lebanon.
Pan Arab al- Hayat said that MP Hariri heard quite bit of objections while meeting with his bloc. The meeting ended with an agreement that Hariri would put before Berri all the observations that was made under three headlines, guarantees that the Speaker would not shut the parliament doors, pledge for amending the law on Parliament’s inner-system and finally to speed up the presentation of the 72 frozen draft laws.
In return, Berri said that he also supports the latter to be appointed as the next prime minister, something that would ensure that the “March 8 and March 14 forces come together in national unity.”
The cabinet formation consultations are expected to speed up after the re-election of Berri, who will directly meet with President Michel Sleiman on Thursday to schedule the compulsory parliamentary consultations to choose the next prime minister.
Sources said that the Lebanon First Bloc is supposed to hold a meeting in order to announce the candidacy of its leader, MP Saad Hariri, for the next premier after he consulted with his allies within the March 14 alliance.
Al-Akhbar reported that Hariri’s premiership appointment is “settled business” as he has already discussed the composition of the upcoming government with President Sleiman.
To sum up, a long parliamentary day has ended with the winning of Mr. Berri who will enter his 17th straight year as speaker. – Hala N.
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Lebanese parliament speaker calls for maintaining stability
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www.chinaview.cn  2009-06-25 19:46:07 |
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BEIRUT, June 25 (Xinhua) — Newly-elected Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called on lawmakers Thursday to take advantage of the positive regional and international atmosphere to work for maintaining peace and stability in Lebanon. During his address to parliament following his election, Berri stressed on "facilitating the formation of a national government to confront external challenges and threats." Berri was elected Thursday as parliament speaker for a fifth consecutive term since 1992 with 90 votes out of 127. "I remind you of the Israeli major military maneuver which represents preparations to revenge Lebanon for standing against Israeli aggression in July 2006, and the resistance which was able to defeat the strongest army in the region," Berri told the parliament. Israel and the Lebanese Shiite armed group Hezbollah fought a 34-day devastating war in July 2006. Berri, however, urged the reinforcement of the Lebanese army and the resistance which is "a necessity as long as Israel posses a threat and maintains its aggressive attitude against Lebanese territories and water." He pledged that the parliament would continue efforts to liberate the occupied Lebanese territories, namely the Shebaa Farms, Kfarshouba Hills and the northern part of Ghajar village, and work on removing mines, as well as implementing UN resolution 1701.
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| Berri Re-Elected Speaker by a Majority of Votes Parliament on Thursday re-installed Nabih Berri for a fifth 4-year-term as Parliament Speaker and Farid Makari as Deputy Speaker for a second term. Berri received 90 votes and 28 white ballots, while Makari got 74 votes and 25 white ballots. The Phalange Party and the Lebanese Forces have openly objected to Berri’s re-election for failure to provide guarantees beforehand that he would not shut doors of Parliament as he did during an 18-month political crisis that gripped Lebanon before a deal was cut in Doha on electing a new President. They have threatened to cast white votes. 127 of the 128-seat Parliament — 13 political blocs and 11 independent MPs — took part in the vote on a Speaker. Absence was MP Riad Rahhal. Marwan Hamadeh and Antoine Zahra were elected Parliament Secretaries. MPs Serge Tor Sarkissian, Michel Moussa and Ahmed Fatfat also got posts in new Lebanon Parliament. "Those who cast blank votes today I am sure will re-elect me in four years," Berri said in his acceptance speech. Celebratory gunfire could be heard across Beirut after Berri’s re-election. "I am responsible towards, and not for, Parliament and the Lebanese citizens and I am committed to the legislature’s inner-rules," Berri said. He pledged that parliament would continue efforts to "liberate Lebanese territories, work on removing mines and guarantee the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701." Berri called for the consolidation of the army as well as supporting the resistance which he considered "a necessity as long as Israel continues to eye Lebanese land." Berri’s re-election was settled after intensive political contacts, particularly within March 14 Forces and Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc. These contacts included detailed debate on the importance of voting for or against Berri. The daily As Safir said Mustaqbal bloc leader MP Saad Hariri heard objections on Berri during the launch meeting Wednesday of "Lebanon First" parliamentary bloc in Qoreitem. It said Hariri, however, warned the protesters that he had "paid a dear price" for the May 7, 2007 bloody events, adding that "if we are keen on coexistence, then we must extend our hand to Berri." Pan-Arab al-Hayat, for its part, said Hariri even heard quite a bit of objections from his own bloc. It said many MPs reminded Hariri of the previous era when Berri shut down Parliament during the 18-month crisis, refusing to open up the doors not even as a tribute to the memory of lawmakers who were assassinated during that period. They also complained that Berri was known for his individual decision-making regarding dealing with the work of Parliament in addition to ignoring the powers of Parliament office, freezing around 72 draft laws related to economic and administrative reforms, and boycotting Prime Minister Fouad Saniora. The meeting ended with an agreement that Hariri would put forth before Berri observations on behalf of "Lebanon First" under three headlines, including guarantees the Speaker would not shut Parliament doors, pledge for amending the law on Parliament’s inner-system and speed up the presentation of the 72 frozen draft laws. |
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Beirut, 25 Jun 09, 07:53
BEIRUT – Lebanese parliamentarians elected on Thursday Democratic Gathering bloc MP Marwan Hamadeh (88 votes) and Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra (66 votes) as secretaries of the House. Change and Reform MP Alain Aoun was also a candidate to one of the two positions but only got 57 votes. House secretaries’ election was followed by the election in default of MPs Michel Moussa, Serje Tour Sarkissian and Ahmed Fatfat as delegates of the House
In fact, just before carrying out these elections, Speaker Nabih Berri was reelected as Speaker of the House for a fifth consecutive mandate (90 votes), followed by the reelection of Future Movement bloc MP Farid Makari as deputy Speaker (74 votes).
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