BEIRUT: Prime Minister Tammam Salam was firm Thursday, telling ministers that he would no longer allow them to obstruct the Cabinet’s work, as the body resumed sessions after three weeks of paralysis.
Thursday’s Cabinet session was the first since Feb. 12, as tension among ministers over a decision-making mechanism prevented meetings from taking place.
During a three-hour meeting, the Cabinet approved a new mechanism aimed at speeding its work, replacing a method which had severely reduced its productivity over the past nine months.
Under the new system, regular decisions – particularly those affecting citizen’s daily lives – will be made by “consensus,” but will not necessarily require the consent of all 24 ministers, as was the case previously. Approval by the major parties represented in the Cabinet will now be enough to authorize such decisions, removing the veto power once held by a minority opposition.
With regard to Cabinet decrees – which would have required the president’s signature – after being signed by the prime minister, the relevant minister and the finance minister, they will be now be presented to the entire Cabinet for signature instead. If one or more ministers refuses to sign, the Constitution dictates that the decrees will still become effective after 15 days.
The new arrangement was reportedly contested by Amal Movement leader Nabih Berri. Berri reportedly told visitors that he wanted strict adherence to Article 65 of the Constitution, which dictates that only a simple majority vote from the Cabinet is necessary for regular decisions to pass.
“If voting happens, then we will adhere to the Constitution. Let’s wait and see,” Berri said.
The issue has been complicated by the lack of a president. Though the Constitution does only require a simple majority for such decisions, it also prioritizes “consensus.”
Addressing ministers at the outset of the session at the Grand Serail, Salam said that consensus-based decisions, as dictated under Article 65, remained the best option during the presidential vacuum. However, he said that the pursuit of such agreement must not lead to the government’s paralysis, and that he would show no leniency toward those who attempted to stall its work.
Salam added that when the presidential vacuum began last May, the parties represented in the Cabinet agreed that its decisions must be consensus-based. The prime minister also declared that the Cabinet’s one-year anniversary should serve as an occasion for the ministers to re-evaluate their work and draw lessons for the future, particularly in light of the exceptional circumstances caused by the vacant presidency.
Salam reiterated that a president must be elected as soon as possible.
There are additional guidelines for future Cabinet meetings as well. Under the new system, the length of each session will not exceed three hours, contrary to previous sessions which sometimes dragged on for up to seven.
Ministers will be asked to carefully study proposed legislation before the session, in order to save time during discussions, and to keep their comments short. A convincing reason must also be presented to postpone discussion of items on the agenda.
Ministers will also no longer be allowed to leave Cabinet meetings early in order to call party leaders or speak to reporters.
During Thursday’s meeting, which most ministers described as calm, the government approved five agenda items that had been stalled due to Cabinet’s hiatus.
Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil proposed appointments to the Banking Control Commission, but Salam asked him to contact various political parties to achieve consensus on the issue before he officially put forward the names.
Ministers added that as the session was restricted to three hours, the government was unable to reach all of the items on the agenda.
Salam closed the door to a side room which ministers had used for smoking, making phone calls and eating during the sessions. And unlike previous Cabinet meetings, no meal was served – ministers were served cookies instead.
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