Constitutional council fails to reach quorum, session delayed until Friday

   
The constitutional council postponed the session which was set to be held today [Tuesday] until Friday, after failing to reach quorum for the third time in a row since only seven out of ten members attended the session.           

Meanwhile, members of civil society organizations who go by the name of “Intifadat al-Banadoura” or "Tomato Revolutionaries" gathered outside the constitutional council’s office hoisting posters of the deputies, criticizing whomever voted in favor of the extension of the Parliament mandate.             

The protesters considered that the council’s mandate has expired, calling for a mass movement on Friday 20th of June, under the slogan: “Take back parliament and institutions stolen by the political class.”                               

The Lebanese Constitutional Council was established in 1994 and came as a direct result of the Taif accord.                                                  

The Council is entrusted to supervise the constitutionality of laws along with electoral appeals and the examination of conflicts arising from elections.                               

On Friday the 31st of May, 97 parliamentarians ratified a law to extend the current parliament's mandate until the 20th of November 2014.                                            

The session was held amid the discontent of several civil society groups who gathered before Nejmeh Square pelting lawmakers with tomatoes in protest of the decision.                                                                  

The Free Patriotic Movement boycotted the session, announcing that they would file an appeal to the Constitutional Council.                                                            

Similarly, President Michel Sleiman also vowed to fight the said law, citing its unconstitutionality as the main reason behind his move.