Labor Minister in the Lebanese government Charbel Nahhas declared that the approval of the electricity plan was an achievement, but stressed that it was not enough in light of the various challenges awaiting the government during

Minister Charbel Nahhas to Al-Manar Website:
Adopting Electricity Plan Not Enough
We Will Not Accept to Remain Gov’t Detainees
What Happened in Cabinet Good Achievement
We Refuse Unable Gov’t; Ambitions Bigger
2012 Budget Main Challenge Awaiting Cabinet
Let Everyone Knows… We Will Not Relent

Labor Minister in the Lebanese government Charbel Nahhas declared that the approval of the electricity plan set by Energy Minister Gebran Bassil by the cabinet was an achievement, but stressed that it was not enough in light of the various challenges awaiting the government during the upcoming stage.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Manar Website, Minister Nahhas said that he and his colleagues in the Change and Reform bloc were serious in warning the government against failing to approve the electricity law because they believe they are not ready to proceed with an imponderable government, which is unable of taking necessary resolutions.

While noting that the 2012 budget was the main challenge, he noted that facing the current disorder in the country would be possible with a government that has proved to Lebanese that there has been a state able to impose itself and take necessary decisions.
The minister also emphasized that the real state is not the one which keeps officers, who have rebelled against its authority, in their posts.

DOUBLE ACHIEVEMENT…
Minister Charbel Nahhas told Al-Manar Website that the approval of the electricity plan set by Energy Minister Gebran Bassil during last cabinet session represented a good accomplishment at various levels.

Nahhas explained that the adoption of the plan was an achievement, given that it is the right of the Lebanese to get electricity such as all other people in the world. He said it was also an achievement, since it let Lebanese perceive they have a government interested in their problems and concerns.

Answering a question about the upcoming stage and the expected developments in relation with the law, Minister Nahhas expressed hope this tendency would be consolidated. He said that what happened at the council of ministers proved that there was a real majority in the country able to take resolutions that serve the Lebanese people. He stressed the necessity that this majority should assume its responsibilities in this regard, and rejected claims of sectarian fears.

NO TO IMPONDERABLE GOVERNMENT!
Answering a question about the secret behind the sudden consensus over the electricity plan, after days of conflicts reflected by the media which led to threats launched by the Change and Reform ministers of even resigning from the government, Nahhas said that what happened was only natural, and denied any “miracle” took place.

Nahhas rejected the rhetoric of “threats”, and stressed that the Change and Reform bloc was serious in dealing with the issue.
“Our commitment to our values was more than clear,” he said.
“What’s evident is that we were not ready to proceed with an imponderable government, which is unable of taking any decision. These are clearly our considerations, regardless of the opinions of our partners in the government.”

Asked whether the adoption of the electricity plan put an end to the Free Patriotic Movement fears, Nahhas stressed that what happened was not enough, and noted that a lot of challenges were still awaiting the government.
“For the Change and Reform bloc, the electricity plan was a foregone conclusion, as it is inherited from the previous government. Our ambitions are a lot bigger.”

MAIN CHALLENGE: 2012 BUDGET!
Answering a question on the upcoming challenges, Minister Charbel Nahhas highlighted that the 2012 budget was the essential one.

Asked whether he was expecting the budget to cause another conflict within the government, Nahhas expressed hope no conflict would take place.
“We will be ready to positively discuss the budget,” he vowed. “However, let everyone knows that we will not relent our demands. We will not accept to be detainees of this government and its considerations,” he went on to say.

Asked whether financing the so-called Special Tribunal for Lebanon would cause another conflict within the government in light of the media debates over this matter, Nahhas only said that the STL financing was only part of the subject. “It is not more important than other clauses, such as taxes for instances,” he said.

REBELS WHO ARE NOT PUNISHED!
The Labor Minister pointed to the political rhetoric adopted by the opposition which violated all red lines. He said that facing this rhetoric could happen through a government which proved to Lebanese that there’ has been a state able to impose itself and take necessary resolutions, instead of political polemics.

Nahhas stressed that facing these polemics “starts by applying law.” He found strange how officers who rebelled against their authorities were not punished, and how officers who disobeyed their bosses were not held accountable, based on false justifications such as sectarian fears that had nothing to do with the reality.

 “The state confirms its powers when persons such as (Internal Security Chief) Ashraf Rifi, (Information branch chief) Wissam Hasan, (OGERO General Director) Abdul Menhem Yusuf and others remain in their posts?!” Nahhas wondered.