Amnesty Bill Sparks Heated Clash Between Two MPs
Tensions continued in Parliament over calls for the Defense Minister to be heard on the general amnesty bill, with MPs from the Free Patriotic Movement among those objecting to his absence.
MP Paula Yaacoubian pushed back, saying lawmakers had already heard the Army’s position from the Defense Minister on several occasions during joint committee meetings. She cited Article 67 of the Constitution, which states that the Prime Minister speaks on behalf of the government, and argued that the principle of collective cabinet responsibility means the government cannot have two separate positions.
“No one said the Defense Minister couldn’t come into the chamber,” Yaacoubian added.
Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab interrupted her, telling her to calm down and accusing her of allowing a personal dispute with the Defense Minister to influence her remarks.
“What did I say that was personal? What did I say that was wrong?” Yaacoubian shot back.
“Everything you said is wrong,” Bou Saab replied.
Yacoubian then challenged him over his handling of the issue while chairing the joint committees, asking whether he had disregarded the Army’s concerns despite them being raised repeatedly.
“That’s not true. A new memorandum was issued, and we support the law,” Bou Saab said.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stepped in to defuse the exchange.
Yaacoubian later told Bou Saab: “I don’t interrupt you when you speak, so let me finish, and then you can give your opinion.”
