REPORT: Lebanese MPs extend parliament's mandate until 2017

News Bulletin Reports
05-11-2014 | 05:18
High views
Share
LBCI
Share
LBCI
Whatsapp
facebook
Twitter
Messenger
telegram
telegram
print
REPORT: Lebanese MPs extend parliament's mandate until 2017
Whatsapp
facebook
Twitter
Messenger
telegram
telegram
print
Whatsapp
facebook
Twitter
Messenger
telegram
telegram
print
3min
REPORT: Lebanese MPs extend parliament's mandate until 2017
Lebanese lawmakers held on Wednesday a parliamentary session under the chairmanship of Speaker Nabih Berri and extended the term of the parliament until 2017 amid the boycott of the Free Patriotic Movement and Kataeb party MPs.

Prior to session, Speaker Berri held talks with Future bloc head MP Fouad Siniora, Marada Movement leader MP Sleiman Frangieh, Democratic Gathering leader MP Walid Jumblatt and MPs Nicolas Fattouch and Georges Adwan.

Earlier, lawmakers made their way to Beirut's Nejmeh Square to attend the parliamentary session amid tight security measures

As lawmakers started to arrive to parliament ahead of Wednesday's session, Civil Movement for Accountability (CMFA) activists staged a sit-in in downtown Beirut to denounce the proposed extension of the parliament's mandate.

Last year, the parliament extended its mandate until November 2014 after the lawmakers failed to agree on a new law and said  the security situation in the country did not guarantee violence-free elections. A similar extension is set to take place today to avoid a further vacuum.

The Baabda Palace has been vacant since President Michel Sleiman's mandate ended in May. The rival MPs have failed to elect a new president over their disputes on a consensual candidate.

The majority of the March 8 alliance's MPs have boycotted the sessions, insisting that there should be consensus on a candidate.

But their boycott has also been seen as a sign of their rejection of Lebanese Forces leader Samir  Geagea's candidacy, which was officially endorsed by the March 14 camp before the coalition suggested agreeing on a compromise nominee.

POSITIONS:

Following the session, Prime Minister Tammam Salam stated that extending parliament's mandate was essential to avoid vacuum at the legislative level.

For her part, Lebanese Forces MP Strida Geagea assured that boycotting the session would have led to void, adding that the current cabinet should be held accountable for the failure to hold the parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, Deputy Head of the Lebanese Forces party MP Georges Adwan noted that deputies who boycotted the session evaded their responsibility as legislators.

As for Progressive Socialist Party Leader MP Walid Jumblatt, he stated that deputies resorted to the extension of parliament's mandate to avoid vacuum, adding that the parliamentary elections will be held when deputies elect a new president.

As for the head of the Marada Party movement MP Sleiman Franjieh, he explained that the country's current situation is not suitable for holding the elections, reiterating his support to MP Michel Aoun as a candidate for the presidential elections.



For more details, watch Maroun Nassif's report in the video above

News Bulletin Reports

Lebanese

extend

parliament's

mandate

until

LBCI Next
From South Lebanon to Bekaa: Israel’s plan to reconfigure border security
Download now the LBCI mobile app
To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world
Google Play
App Store
We use
cookies
We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.
Accept
Learn More