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Amal Movement: Parliamentary Vacuum would Overthrow the Republic | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Lebanese Parliament speaker Nabih Berri strikes his gavel at the end of a parliamentary session in parliament in Beirut, May 31, 2013. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir


Beirut – Lebanon’s Amal Movement, which is headed by Speaker Nabih Berri, has described the ongoing failure to agree on a parliamentary electoral law as “the most dangerous crisis that is currently hitting the country.”

Allowing for a parliamentary vacuum would lead to toppling the republic, it said.

Amal Movement Member Qabalan Qabalan made the comments during a popular rally on Thursday in South Lebanon, where he stressed that Lebanon was facing “a series of local and foreign challenges.”

“The Israeli enemy is waiting for an opportunity to attack Lebanon, and it is part of the blind terrorism that is threatening the whole world,” Qabalan said.

As for internal challenges, the Amal Movement official underlined the presence of severe divisions among the Lebanese political parties, saying: “The parliamentary elections crisis is the most dangerous since it affects the entire country.”

He stressed the need for all political factions to stand together and save the country from collapse.

He also urged all politicians to “stop wasting time and opportunities” and to put national interests above all other personal considerations.

“It is necessary to agree on the elections and save the country from falling into the abyss,” Qabalan stated, adding: “We must not forget that our system is republican, democratic and parliamentarian, and that parliament is the core of institutions and without it there is no presence for any other institution.”

“Toppling the legislature is toppling the Republic”, he stated.

The Lebanese parliament’s term ends on June 20 and the country will head towards an unprecedented vacuum since 1920 should the political parties fail to agree on a new electoral law and hold the elections within the constitutional deadlines.