Electric wires connected to a generator, which runs when the national power grid is down in one of Tripoli's heavily populated neighborhoods, north Lebanon, 30 July 2018 EPA

Beirut - Caroline Akoum, Youssef Diab

Tension renewed Sunday between the Amal Movement and the Free Patriotic Movement after an audio recording revealed that Lebanon’s government had rejected last month’s offer of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to enable the country power supply with the help of the German company Siemens, and instead have decided to stay attached to the Turkish power ships as a solution to the electricity crisis.

In the leaked audio recording, MP Yassine Jaber from the Amal Movement parliamentary bloc, explained that Lebanon’s government rejected Merkel’s offer, which allows the German Siemens company build plants for the production of electricity for a very low price and in a period not exceeding 18 months.

Prior to the audio recording, reports emerged saying Merkel was upset from the way she was treated in the Lebanese capital.

“This presidential tenure will destroy Lebanon,” Yassir was heard saying in the audio recording, later spread on social networking websites.

He said the president and the energy minister are pressing to get $500 million on top of the $1.5 billion to provide electricity for a number of hours until the end of 2018.

Caretaker Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil responded on Sunday to Jaber's accusations and said the Siemens company “did not take part in any tendering process.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt wrote in a tweet that he supported Jaber's statements.

“His voice exposes the farce of the Turkish (power) ships, which are one of the main reasons behind the deficit and the public debt,” Jumblatt said.

Meanwhile, former MP Boutros Harb told Asharq Al-Awsat that the political crisis in Lebanon was not limited to disputes over the distribution of ministerial shares. “It is more linked to the upcoming presidential race,” he explained.