Caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati (left) meets Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, at Ain al-Tineh on June 17, 2023. (Credit: Hassan Ibrahim/Parliament)
BEIRUT — Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati met Saturday Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at his residence in Ain al-Tineh.
No statement was made after their meeting, which occurred three days after the Parliament's twelfth presidential electoral session. Like all previous sessions, the vote was inconclusive.
During Wednesday's electoral session, former minister Jihad Azour — supported by the majority of the opposition — obtained 59 votes while Marada Movement leader Sleiman Frangieh — supported by the Amal Movement and Hezbollah — obtained 51 votes.
Berri has not set a date for the next electoral session, but did schedule a legislative session for Monday, June 19, to discuss opening a line of credit for the 2023 budget.
Berri's scheduling of legislative sessions has been controversial since late October given the presidential vacuum. Mikati has received similar criticism for the convening of several cabinet meetings, which critics argue encroach upon the prerogatives of the presidency.
Lebanon, without a president since October, is facing an unprecedented economic crisis coupled with a double executive power vacancy.
