Next Tuesday, the joint parliamentary committees will reconsider the Capital Control Bill, following the loss of the quorum disrupted the last session, as a result of electoral bids by some MPs and blocs..
The discussion will continue in light of the government paper that was referred to the committees to clarify some of the issues raised by the deputies in the previous session.
A well-informed parliamentary source told Al-Diyar that there is confusion and question marks regarding the ideas contained in the paper, and that the atmosphere of some parliamentary blocs, especially when we are on the threshold of the electoral battle, does not indicate the occurrence of positive developments that would push for the committees’ approval of the Capital Control project before the elections..
In response to a question, he said that President Berri called the joint committees to meet and complete the discussion of this project in light of the explanatory paper sent by the government with his repeated emphasis on protecting the rights of depositors, but the parliamentary climate is still the same and it is unlikely that the committees will approve this project..
In this atmosphere, the various parliamentary blocs refused to answer the question regarding the fate of the upcoming committee session, and representatives and members of a number of blocs told Al-Diyar that they preferred to express their position during the session and discuss the government paper..
In this context, it was learned that the Strong Lebanon and Strong Republic blocs are heading with MPs from the future and others to repeat their position, which reinforces the belief that Capital Control will not be resolved before the elections, and that the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc will discuss the government’s paper at its meeting tomorrow in light of the report of a special committee from the bloc..
As for the Development and Liberation bloc, it will, in turn, study the government’s paper to build on what is required, according to what a source in it told “Al-Diyar” yesterday, while confirming that the bloc is with the approval of Capital Control, provided that it includes a formula that does not affect the depositors’ money and rights.
Regarding the plenary session and its fate, parliamentary sources said that this session that Speaker Berri seeks to hold before the elections is uncertain, knowing that there are other laws that are supposed to be on its schedule in addition to the draft capital control law, including banking secrecy..
The sources indicated, according to reading the government’s paper regarding the deputies’ inquiries, that the paper is not completely negative and not entirely positive either, and there are matters that are supposed to be clarified during the committees’ session the day following tomorrow to build on the required thing..
The sources clarified that there is a near unanimous position between the blocs and the representatives to set clear and strict texts in order to protect depositors and their rights, with an emphasis also on seeking to approve the amended Capital Control. However, the timing of its approval is not settled, especially since the time has become short before the elections, in addition to the electoral atmosphere that contributes to making it likely to be postponed.
