Kataeb MP Nadim Gemayel on Saturday deemed President Michel Aoun’s letter, asking MPs to give a clarification on Article 95 of the Constitution, as an outbidding and a display of power and prerogatives.

“This is an outbidding that neither progresses nor regresses; it is geared towards an exhibition of power and authority,” Gemayel told Al-Joumhouria newspaper.

“I cannot make out any significance in this letter. Let us see how the “Strong President” will regain the trust of the Lebanese in the government,” he stated.

“The Lebanese citizen in general and the Christian in particular no longer have faith in his country or his nation. Let us start resolving the matter from here before we tackle other issues, seeking fictitious problems that have nothing to do with our survival in Lebanon,” he added.

President Michel Aoun had signed the 2019 state budget on Wednesday, finalizing the audits of the previous years as stipulated by the law and providing the necessary resources to the Court of Audit.

However, Aoun addressed a letter to Speaker Nabih Berri, demanding that MPs provide a clarification on Article 95 of the Constitution, especially paragraph B, which states that sectarianism must be eliminated in hiring for state jobs, the judiciary and in military and security institutions, despite the fact that all sectarian groups should be represented in the cabinet and in senior state posts.

Paragraph B specifies that sectarian hiring shall be replaced by the principle of expertise and competence.

Following Aoun’s request, Speaker Berri scheduled a Parliament session on October 17 to elucidate the status of Article 95.