House Speaker, Nabih Berri, indicated, in an intervention during a general session at UNESCO Palace Monday, that article 69 of the Constitution clearly states that “when the Council [of Ministers] resigns or is considered resigned, the Chamber of Deputies shall automatically be considered convened in extraordinary session until a new Council has been formed and has gained the Chamber’s confidence.”

Berri continued: “However, this does not prevent the achievement of balance between powers.”

It is worth noting that the legislative session has been studying 68 draft laws in order to approve those that gain the support of the majority of the members of the parliament.

The Parliament has passed an urgent law proposal to lift the banking secrecy for one year, according to NNA.

“The House of Parliament, and based on the President of the Republic’s letter, has issued a decision. The Parliament’s Council has the right to take three measures in response to the President’s letter, so it has decided to take an extreme measure, which is issuing a decision,” Speaker Berri explained.

Replying to the critics of the parliament’s decision under the pretext that “the parliament had been expected to pass a law” [instead of issuing a decision] in response to the President’s letter, Speaker Berri said: “Originally, the Parliament does not have the right to issue a law in response to the President of the Republic’s letter. Thus, the House of Parliament has issued a decision that all state institutions, the Lebanese Central Bank, ministries, as well as state departments and public institutions, be subject to financial or forensic auditing.”

“Today, we are called forth to reach a position whereby we, as a parliament council, respect our own decisions,” Speaker Berri added.

Source: Al-Manar English Website and NNA