The Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, confirmed that "there is no stage in the historical phases that Lebanon has gone through that resembles the dangerous phase our country is currently experiencing." He highlighted the critical issues facing Lebanon, including the vacancy in the presidency, the economic crisis, the worsening Syrian refugee crisis, and the ongoing Israeli aggression against Gaza, which targets residential areas in southern Lebanese villages and towns, as well as civilians and journalists. He referred specifically to the recent incident in the town of Taybeh that resulted in the martyrdom of the town's mayor and the early morning attack in Yater that targeted the local school.
During his meeting with the new head of the Bar Association in Beirut, Fadi Al-Masri, Berri emphasized the necessity for all to assume national responsibility and to expedite the election of a president, which he deemed essential for the regular functioning of institutions. He stressed the important role that the Bar Association could play alongside the Parliament in enhancing legislative work.
For his part, Al-Masri mentioned that they discussed ongoing issues with Berri that the Bar Association regularly reviews with him, particularly topics related to fees owed to the Bar Association and the value-added tax concerning procedures specific to lawyers, seeking their exemption until a resolution is found.
Al-Masri also pointed out the need to adjust the special stamp for the Bar Association and other matters concerning the interests of lawyers. Berri underscored the urgency of electing a president quickly to ensure the regular operation of constitutional institutions, a sentiment echoed by the Bar Association.
Additionally, President Berri met with a delegation from the Sovereign Front, which included MPs Camille Dory Chamoun, General Ashraf Rifi, Razi Al-Hajj, former MP Adeeb Abu Al-Lama, and Kamil Joseph Chamoun from the Progressive Nationalists Party. After the meeting, MP Chamoun stated, "We wanted to visit President Nabih Berri today to discuss the extension of the Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, which we consider a vital necessity given the conditions Lebanon is facing due to the ongoing war in southern Lebanon." He emphasized the importance of preserving the military institution and stated that under such circumstances, changing the army commander would not be appropriate, emphasizing that the new commander should be appointed after electing a president, as it is the president who makes that appointment.
Chamoun concluded, "We hope the next parliamentary session will clarify this matter regarding the extension of the army commander and other positions in security forces. We also wish the Cabinet would act in the same direction to avoid putting the country in a new vacuum, especially concerning security, which we need to maintain." Berri also received Melanie Hauenstein, the UNDP resident representative in Lebanon, in a farewell visit.
