Berri won't tackle extending parliament's mandate

Speaker of the House Nabih Berri stressed Friday that Lebanon must be protected from regional conflicts and their spillovers and fallouts, shying away that the wars in neighboring countries will come to an end within 5 years.

In remarks published by al-Joumhouria daily, Berri said that he will not allow any discussion about extending the parliament's mandate to take place because the priority goes to the presidency.

"I did not tackle parliament's mandate issue with MP Walid Jumblatt and reports about that we both support the extension is tendentious, " he added.

The speaker also reiterated that there is nothing new regarding the presidential elections, stressing that the parliamentary polls must be staged amid the presence of a new president.

"When the Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Raii called me to extend his greetings over the Eid, I told him that holding successive sessions without electing new president harms the parliament's reputation, hence local pressures must take place," Berri pointed out.

"I have agreed with Jumblatt on taking actions to nudge the presidential polls but I will reveal the steps," he stated.

Commenting on the pay hike, Berri said that no guarantees that the parliament will convene for approving it.

"Everyone says they will show up, but no guarantees yet," he confirmed.

"In the light of the meetings between Ministers Ali Hassan Khalil, Wael Abou Faour and MP Fouad Siniora, we will determine actions regarding the pay hike," Berri concluded.