Lebanon's Prime Minister storms out of parliament after dispute with speaker
Lebanon, Politics, 3/6/1998

Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri angrily walked out of parliament Thursday after a heated quarrel with House Speaker Nabih Berri that was described as the worst public display of hostility since Hariri took office in 1992.

The incident was later downplayed by the two leaders and other politicians but still presented a question mark over its possible repercussions on public policy and the general political atmosphere in the country.

The dispute began in the morning during the second day of a two-day legislation session during a discussion of a draft law dealing with retirement benefits for public servants. Hariri asked that the bill be postponed until discussion of another bill on salary scales of government employees takes place.

The government had earlier retrieved the bill on salary scales from Parliament in order to explore new ways to raise funds to finance it, pledging to re-submit it in five weeks.

"Promises, promises," Berri reportedly cried out. "The government has been promising to endorse the bill on salary scales since January 1, 1996, and it still hasn't."

"Let everyone know that this parliament is more concerned than the government with the treasury. You cannot make a joke out of this parliament," the speaker shouted.

To that Hariri retorted: "If this is the case then this parliament should have done its job and brought down the government. We are not children for you to yell at us." When Berri said that that was "exactly what you wanted us to do" in the first place, meaning a no-confidence vote in parliament so that Hariri could reshuffle his cabinet and pluck out opponents, Hariri replied: "Consider that the government does not exist in this parliament. Go ahead, do what you want." He then stormed out of Parliament, followed by his ministers.

The session was adjourned, giving way for mediations between the two leaders. Shortly afterwards, however, both leaders showed up for a luncheon at the presidential palace in honor of Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa. President Elias Hrawi was said to have a hand in mediating between he two, who were later seen walking together and smiling as if nothing had happened.

The parliament session was resumed later in the evening, but the tension between Berri and Hariri was still evident.

Petty quarrels between Lebanon's so-called troika, Hrawi, Berri and Hariri, are not uncommon, and have at times threatened to plunge the nation in crises. Thursday's incident, however, was the most heated argument any two of the "troika" have had in public since Hariri took office six years ago.

Previous Stories:
  Efforts to release Lebanese detainees in Israeli jails   (3/5/1998)
  Iranian President supports Lebanon's struggle against Israel   (3/4/1998)
  Lebanon: Israel cannot condition withdrawal offer   (3/3/1998)

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