Speaker Nabih Berri described Progressive Socialist Party Chief Walid Joumblatt’s proposal on the Qabr Shamoun case as a good chance to resolve the tension resulting from the deadly incident and an applicable reasonable proposition.

“It is a good chance, applicable and can be agreed upon and approved in Cabinet, after which a complete reconciliation could take place in Baabda Palace that would restore things to before the Choueifat incident,” Berri told his visitors at his Ain al-Tineh on Thursday, according to Al Joumhouria newspaper.

“This is a chance that serves everyone and it should be picked out as the situation might deteriorate if things remain as they are,” The Speaker noted.

“Economic growth is meaningless if the Cabinet’s paralysis persists,” he added, calling for the Cabinet to meet as soon as possible.

Berri expressed comfort to the budget approval ramifications noting that the World Bank delegation that had visited him the day before seemed appeased with the budget approval and considered that it can be strengthened in the 2020 budget to be submitted on time.

Joumblat has called for merging the Qabr Shamoun incident, which killed two bodyguards in the convoy of Minister of State for Refugee Affairs Saleh Gharib and injured others, and the Choueifat incident and referring them both to the Higher Judicial Council.

The Choueifat incident took place last year between the PSP and Lebanese Democratic Party which led to the death of PSP supporter Ala Abi Faraj while the suspected killer, identified as Amine Souki, affiliated to LDP Chief MP Talal Arslan, remains at large and is believed to be hiding in Syria.