Dr. Salam Fayyad, PM Elect, showed up at the PLC Headquarters in Ramallah before noon carrying with him the new government formation and the ministerial program but the PLC didn’t attend as there was no quorum. Only 34 PLC members attended the session (10 in Ramallah and 24 in Gaza Strip) because PLC members from Fatah boycotted the session which they described as illegal. One of the PLC members who preferred to remain anonymous summarized the situation by saying: I believe we are witnessing today the end of the role of the PLC which is suffering clinical death and now President Abbas can exercise his authorities in light of the failure of the PLC to assume its role. The caretaker government headed by Fayyad can continue its work as long as there is no PLC to approve or reject it.
The PLC members, including Hanieh, receive part of their salaries from the government of Fayyad
Official sources in the PLC revealed that all PLC members received part of their financial dues which accumulated in the past period and these amounts were transferred to the personal accounts of the PLC members. Hanieh who is also a PLC member received yesterday his first salary from the caretaker government headed by Salam Fayyad. Minister of Information Riyad al-Malki said the transfer of the fund to Hanieh came because of his capacity as a PLC member and not as a PM. No one can prevent such transfers to any PLC member because of his political positions, especially that providing these salaries is a major part of the work and commitment of the PNA. The First Deputy to the PLC Speaker Dr. Hasan Khreisheh said he found in his account an amount reaching 12,000NIS which is part of the accumulated salaries and that this amount was transferred to all PLC members, including Hanieh and Zahhar.
Published at Al Ayyam and Al Hayat al Jadida NewsPapers on July 23, 2007
