Samir Geagea, Leader of the Lebanese Forces, giving a speech during the 32nd anniversary mass of the Lebanese Forces martyrs. (Photo sent by the LF to L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — The head of the Lebanese Forces party, Samir Geagea, announced Monday that its parliamentary bloc — the Strong Republic group — and the Kataeb bloc will not participate in Wednesday's scheduled parliamentary session.
Geagea said the blocs will not participate in the session because it coincides with the anniversary of Bachir Gemayel's assassination. Gemayel was the former Lebanese president and founder of LF who was killed in 1982.
Parliament will meet on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week to discuss the 2022 budget's draft law, the state-run national News Agency reported on Thursday.
Following a Monday meeting with his bloc, Geagea said his party reached the decision after discussions with the Kataeb party with the hope that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri will "take a step forward and postpone the date of this session."
Geagea also said his parliamentary bloc will not vote on the 2022 draft budget. "The current budget is similar to previous budgets, without a clear rescue plan," Geagea said, adding that he is "keen on Lebanon's cooperation with the International Monetary Fund." Geagea likened the 2022 budget draft to that of a "corner shop," and said it is "not a budget for a country going through all the current crises."
The Finance and Budget Committee completed its review of the long-delayed draft budget on Aug. 25, but failed to decide on all outstanding issues.
On the subject of naming an alternate investigative judge in the 2020 Beirut port explosion probe, Geagea said his party is preparing "to conduct all legal reviews to address the issue." According to him, the current stagnation is unfair and the investigation should not be obstructed further.
On Sept. 6, the Higher Judicial Council decided to appoint an alternate investigating judge in the 2020 Beirut port explosion probe. The current lead investigator, Judge Tarek Bitar, remains in his post, but many fear this measure is aimed at undercutting Bitar, whose hands have been tied due of appeals brought against him.