Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri welcomed on Thursday, at his Ain al-Tineh residence, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, with whom he discussed the country’s general situation and political developments.

After the meeting, Mikati said, "We’ve discussed general affairs, especially the topics we intend to address during next week’s cabinet session. (…) We’ve also discussed the tough situation that the country is going through, the scarce public finances, the required revenues, the expenditures, and the public sector’s wage increase.” 

Mikati further underlined the importance of having the Parliament Speaker approve pending reforms in line with the cabinet’s efforts dealing with the country’s crises. 

The PM added that he saw eye-to-eye with Berri on a number of matters. “I was very honest with the Speaker about the fact that the situation requires a quick emergency workshop to salvage the country and that the government cannot play its role with a dysfunctional parliament and with the failure to elect a new president,” Mikati added, deeming the election of a president “the dole way forward to a solution”. 

“This morning, I held a meeting with the International Monetary Fund, and we discussed these issues. The draft laws in the possession of the Speaker of Parliament must be approved,” Mikati added. 

Berri separately welcomed Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Abdallah Bou Habib, with whom he discussed the country’s general situation, the latest political developments, and a number of affairs involving the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

On the other hand, Berri received a reply letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping, in which the latter thanked Berri for congratulating him on his re-election as president for a new term.

"China attaches great importance to the development of Chinese-Lebanese relations and is ready exert joint efforts with the Lebanese state to enhance cooperation between the two countries in all fields,” the Chinese President’s letter read.